PyeongChang Winter Games signs promotional agreement with KOICA

The organizing committee for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics on Monday signed a promotional agreement with the country's state international aid agency, hoping a group of overseas volunteers can help spread the word about South Korea's first Winter Games.

The organizing committee said it has reached a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Korea International Cooperation Agency (KOICA). Under the deal, members of the KOICA's World Friends Korea (WFK), a team of international volunteers, will be functioning as "PyeongChang Youth Supporters" in the runup to the Olympics.

Their role will be to promote the 2018 Olympics in their overseas bases. Upon returning to South Korea, they will have a chance to serve as volunteers during the Olympics, the organizing committee said.

The WFK was launched in 2009 as an integration of other volunteer programs previously operated by different government agencies.

The KOICA also runs visiting fellowship programs for public servants from developing nations, and it will include tours to PyeongChang's Olympic venues and facilities as part of such programs, officials said. (Yonhap)