The Torch, which is due to arrive in the Olympic Stadium for the Opening Ceremony on February 9, has now begun a 103 kilometre journey around the capital city before it continues its journey eastwards.

A total of 600 Torchbearers are expected to participate in what marks the first time in nearly 30 years that Seoul has hosted the event since before the 1988 Summer Games.

The event today began at the Digital Magic Space in Sangam-dong where freestyle skier Park Hee-jin carried the Torch amid a cheering crowd banging drums to create a festive atmosphere.

Optimism has reportedly grown in the host nation in recent days following the announcement that North Korea will participate in the Games.

The Torch also visited the historic site of Gyeongbokgung Palace, before being carried in a sedan chair as hundreds of participants in traditional court costumes reenact a royal outing.

Cha Bum-Kun, considered one of the greatest South Korean footballers of all time, was among others to carry the Torch.

The former SV. Darmstadt 98, Eintracht Frankfurt and Bayer Leverkusen player represented his country 135 times, scoring 58 goals, and was named Asia's Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics in 1999.

The Torch Relay has already visited other major cities in South Korea including Jeju, Busan, Gwangju, Daejeon and Incheon.

It is due to visit the Seoul Olympic Stadium at which the Opening and Closing Ceremonies took place for Seoul 1988 tomorrow.

It will then travel north into Gyeonggi Province before continuing its journey towards Pyeongchang.

In total, the Torch is due to travel precisely 2,018 kilometres and be carried by around 7,500 Torchbearers.