By Kim Tae-gyu
More than a few people played significant roles in PyeongChang’s successful bid to host the 2018 Winter Olympic Games and Cho Yang-ho is probably top of the list.
Cho, also chairman of Hanjin Group, has spearheaded the rustic town’s success in its third attempt by chairing the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games Bid Committee (POBICO) over the past two years.
``Residents of Gangwon Province are most responsible for our victory,’’ Cho said after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) voted Wednesday to give PyeongChang the rights to host the 2018 event over Germany’s Munich and France’s Annecy at its session in Durban, South Africa. Gangwon is home to PyeongChang.
``I will never forget Gangwon residents’ support _ they braved cold winter spells this February to welcome on-site inspectors of the IOC. POBICO and the government also made significant contributions.’’
Since he took the stewardship at POBICO in September 2009, Cho channeled a great proportion of his energy and time so as to win the bid of hosting the quadrennial sports gala.
During the 22 months, he traveled abroad 34 times to promote PyeongChang’s bid. Toward that end, the 62-year-old flew more than half a million kilometers, which is equivalent to circling the world 13 times.
In order to be a part of PyeongChang’s final presentation before the IOC votes, Cho even took private lessons to master ways to speak in English in front of a large audience.
It would be a tall order for Cho, who typically does not like to deliver speeches. POBICO officials said that the pressure stressed him out sometimes.
``Based on the upbeat sentiments and atmosphere, we will continue to make the necessary efforts to prepare for the Olympics,’’ Cho said.
Hanjin Group is one of the world’s largest transportation conglomerates. After Cho took charge of POBICO in 2009, the group’s affiliate Korean Air, the country’s flag carrier, donated 3 billion won to the committee.
Cho began working for Korean Air as a manager in its U.S. office in 1974 and took charge of the Seoul-based company in 1992 after assuming a series of crucial positions.
He graduated from Inha University, received an MBA from the University of Southern California in 1979 and a Ph.D in business administration also from Inha University in Incheon, west of Seoul, in 1998.