Moon invites N. Korea to PyongChang Olympics again
President Moon Jae-in holds an oversized name card showing he has been named honorary ambassador for the PyeongChang Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, after receiving it from former national figure skating star Kim Yuna, right, during an event to muster nationwide support for the games at the Alpensia Resort in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, Monday, 200 days ahead of the Olympics. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-kwon
By Kim Rahn
President Moon Jae-in renewed his invitation to North Korea to attend the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Monday.
He made the call despite a continuous silence from the North about cooperation on nonpolitical issues including participating in the sports event. A month earlier Moon also proposed forming a single, unified team with North Korea.
“We’ve opened the door wide, and the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has, and now all that is left is North Korea’s decision,” Moon said during an event to muster nationwide support for the games in the provincial city of Gangwon, 200 days before the Olympics is set to open.
“I again urge North Korea to make a decision. We’ll neither hastily expect a positive response, nor be pessimistic about negative ones. We’ll just keep the doors open until the very last moment.”
As part of continuous offers for the North’s participation in the PyeongChang games, the President also asked IOC President Thomas Bach to provide support in inviting North Korea, saying North Korea’s participation will enhance the Olympic spirit and foster peace in Northeast Asia.
“Following the PyeongChang games, Japan hosts the Summer Olympics in 2020 and China holds the Winter Olympics in 2022. I hope the series of sports events in Korea, Japan and China will be good chances to solidify peace on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia,” he said.
Moon also pledged the central government’s full support for the promotion of the Winter Games.
The President was named as an honorary ambassador, a part of his efforts to boost public attention on the international sports event.
He said the PyeongChang Olympics is the first large-scale international event the new government will oversee, adding it is the administration’s duty to make the event succeed.
“So far, the organizing committee and the Gangwon Provincial Government have taken charge of event preparations, and from now on, I promise the central government will provide full support,” the President said in a speech at the convention center in the Alpensia Resort.
“I, as President and as an honorary ambassador, will make all efforts for a successful event that the people will be proud of.”
Former national figure skater Kim Yuna, who is also a publicity ambassador, gave the President a large sized name card which confirmed Moon as honorary ambassador.
Other honorary ambassadors include singer Insooni, comedian Jung Chan-woo, Major Leaguers Choo Shin-soo and Ryu Hyun-jin, and U.S. alpine skier Lindsey Vonn.
Moon had photos taken for a pictorial of the sports event by celebrity photographer Cho Sei-hon. He also tasted Gangwon specialties such as buckwheat and potato pancakes, and a thistle salad.
Other participants in the ceremony included PyeongChang Organizing Committee President Lee Hee-beom, Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Do Jong-hwan, Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, and winter sports stars including short track speed skater Shim Suk-hee.
The Winter Olympics have not gained much public attention and support here especially after the massive presidential corruption scandal in which former President Park Geun-hye’s longtime friend Choi Soon-sil allegedly attempted to gain benefits by participating in the construction and management of Olympic facilities.
Moon said he hopes the Olympics will “heal the people” who have had hard times over the past months because of the political turmoil caused by the corruption scandal.
“Especially Gangwon residents were concerned as the scandal dealt a blow to the Olympics preparation process. If we achieve a successful event, it will heal the people and make them have pride and hope in Korea again,” Moon said.