K-pop fans buzzing about big names at the Olympics

K-pop fans will be watching Pyeongchang for stars instead of sports as they anticipate some of the biggest South Korean acts in the world appearing on the global stage.

Could a surprise be in store for the Opening Ceremony?

for CBC Sports · Posted: Feb 07, 2018 1:35 AM EST | Last Updated: February 7, 2018

EXO perform for the Opening Ceremony ahead of the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon Asiad Stadium on September 19, 2014 in Incheon, South Korea. (Chung Sung-Jun/Getty Images)

By Nicole Winchester, for CBC Sports

The Opening Ceremony acts for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang have been announced, and they lean toward a distinctly indie rock-slash-folksy vibe with Bolbbalgan4's Ahn Ji Young and Guckkasten's Ha Hyun Woo performing.

CBC Music playlist: K-pop idols

That hasn't stopped K-pop fans from buzzing about a possible surprise performance from the biggest K-pop names in the world today.

Dude what if the big thing BTS has prepared for us is that they will sing during the opening ceremony in the Olympics! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestBoyBand?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BestBoyBand</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iHeartAwards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iHeartAwards</a> <a href="https://t.co/WJdzEdVUX1">pic.twitter.com/WJdzEdVUX1</a>
—@Nerdy_3000

BTS WILL PROLLY PERFORM AT THE OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY AND THEY’LL WATCH YUZURU PERFORM AND YUZURU WILL WATCH THEM PERFORM AND I STG I’LL BE CRYING WITH MY DOG <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iHeartAwards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iHeartAwards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestBoyBand?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BestBoyBand</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BTS?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BTS</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/BTS_twt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@bts_twt</a>
—@taeflu

THE OLYMPICS OPENING CEREMONY IS NEXT WEEK AND <a href="https://twitter.com/BTS_twt?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@BTS_twt</a> HAVE VIRTUALLY GONE UNDERGROUND DO YOU SEE WHERE I'M GOING-
—@NiightNGale

Could BTS be a secret guest at the Opening Ceremony? Some fans think it's unlikely because one of their members, Namjoon, had surgery for a deviated septum this week.

so if namjoon had that surgery, it means definitely no bts for the opening ceremony...
—@hanawasakus

Meanwhile, news about potential Closing Ceremony performances has already caused great excitement in K-pop circles.

LET THIS BE TRUE <a href="https://t.co/KAl8wB7oc0">https://t.co/KAl8wB7oc0</a><br>EXO and CL to perform at the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics closing ceremony<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXO?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/pyeongchangOlympics2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#pyeongchangOlympics2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PyeongChang2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PyeongChang2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WinterOlympics2018?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WinterOlympics2018</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KPOP?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KPOP</a>
—@_mintaesthetic

EXO has experience with sports ceremonies, as member Baekhyun sang the South Korean national anthem for the IOC's opening ceremony. EXO also performed in the opening ceremony for the 2014 Incheon Asia Games.

CL stars in one of K-pop's biggest girl groups, 2NE1, while also doubling as a solo artist who had success in North America with her 2015 jam 'Hello B----es'.

Needless to say, even though CL's performance isn't confirmed, the hype is real. As is the hashtag: #EXOlympics.

Korean broadcasts/news outlets all calling EXO the "representative group of Korea" talking about them performing at the Olympics closing ceremony 👍🏻👍🏻<br>They got that power 💪🏻<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iHeartAwards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iHeartAwards</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestFanArmy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BestFanArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXOL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXOL</a><a href="https://twitter.com/weareoneEXO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@weareoneEXO</a>
—@itshysterie

The rumor of <a href="https://twitter.com/chaelinCL?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@chaelinCL</a> performing at the closing ceremony for the <a href="https://twitter.com/Olympics?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Olympics</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SouthKorea?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SouthKorea</a> makes me SO HAPPY! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/blackjack?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#blackjack</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/GZB?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#GZB</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/2ne1?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#2ne1</a> <a href="https://t.co/ALRTqUocvL">pic.twitter.com/ALRTqUocvL</a>
—@NHetman

Omg I am getting chills just imagining EXO-L's fanchants at the Olympic's closing ceremony when EXO will perform and to think that the whole world will witness that!!<a href="https://twitter.com/weareoneEXO?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@weareoneEXO</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXOL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXOL</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/BestFanArmy?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#BestFanArmy</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/iHeartAwards?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#iHeartAwards</a> <br>EXO 엑소 CHINA SHEEP
—@EXOnebulae

Or could there be the ultimate mashup?

But, what if this happens at the Closing Ceremony?<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/EXOlympics?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#EXOlympics</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CL?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CL</a> <a href="https://t.co/RDbG5omgbx">pic.twitter.com/RDbG5omgbx</a>
—@JaneDoe799

If you want to hear (and see) what all of the tweets are about, here's a few fan fave videos to catch up on K-pop's big names.

BTS - 'Blood, Sweat, and Tears'