The white tiger, a mythological creature in Korean folklore, has been selected as the official mascot for the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Games.

Named Soohorang, the mascot will be the symbol for South Korea's first Winter Olympics and Bandabi, an Asiatic black bear, will be the mascot for the Paralympic Winter Games.

The organizing committee said Thursday the mascots were fixed after a review and approval by the International Olympic Committee(IOC)'s executive board in Lausanne as well as a prior confirmation by the International Paralympic Committee.

The two mascots take after animals appearing in Korea's founding mythology and are closely associated with Korean culture.