Seoul:Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon announced his openness to a possible collaboration with North Jeolla Province to co-host the 2036 Summer Olympics. During a press conference, he stated that the city would not reject a proposal from North Jeolla, South Korea's selected candidate for the event.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the decision comes after North Jeolla, which was chosen over Seoul in February last year, recognized the challenges of hosting the Olympics independently due to insufficient infrastructure, such as accommodations, transportation, and stadiums.
In a meeting on September 7 at Seoul City Hall, North Jeolla Governor Lee Won-taeg discussed co-hosting the Olympics with Mayor Oh, with Seoul suggesting that major events like the opening and closing ceremonies be held in the capital. However, Oh noted that a formal proposal from North Jeolla has yet to be received.
Mayor Oh highlighted the importance of considering the perspective of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), which prioritizes cost-effectiveness and convenience for the host location. He mentioned that a joint hosting could raise concerns about the travel time between Seoul and Jeonju, a major city in North Jeolla Province.
Mayor Oh urged the central government to develop a comprehensive proposal that takes into account the likelihood of IOC approval for the co-hosting plan. In response, Governor Lee stated their commitment to ongoing discussions with Seoul to enhance global competitiveness in hosting the Summer Olympics and indicated that more detailed negotiations would occur at a working level.