The article examines the changes that occurred in South Korea during the time between the Olympic Games of 1988 and 2018. Special attention is paid to the international situation around the Games, as well as to relations between the countries of the Korean Peninsula. The 1988 Olympics laid the foundations for the international position of South Korea and contributed to the establishment of diplomatic relations between the Republic of Korea and Russia. The 2018 Olympiad strengthened the established contacts, marked the beginning of a new peace policy in the region and created a solid foundation for new joint projects.