Five politicians may face probe over PyeongChang Olympics

By Kim Se-jeong

Choi Moon-soon

A coalition of 50 civic groups has filed complaints with the prosecution against five people, including Gangwon Province Governor Choi Moon-soon, demanding an investigation into the preparations for the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

In a petition filed on Monday, they claimed the five people abused their authority or neglected their duties in preparing for the Olympics, thus wasting taxpayers’ money and damaging the environment.

The other four are Kim Jin-sun, former Gangwon governor and former head of the organizing committee for the Games; Yeom Dong-yeol, a lawmaker for the ruling Saenuri Party representing Taebaek, Gangwon Province; Park Joo-sun, a lawmaker of the opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy Party who leads a lawmakers’ group supporting the Games; and Moon Dae-sung, a member of the International Olympic Committee and another Saenuri lawmaker.

The civic groups accused the five of underestimating the environmental damage caused by the construction of match venues as well as wasting taxpayers’ money.

Incumbent Governor Choi has been criticized for cancelling the original plan for the opening and closing ceremonies venue without proper authorization. His decision ultimately cost almost 60 billion won more.

According to the original plan, the provincial government was supposed to spend 28.9 billion won expanding a ski jump facility so that it could be used for the opening and closing ceremonies. But, “Choi later authorized 92.1 billion won to build a brand-new venue for the ceremonies,” the complaint said. He did not receive formal consent from the Ministry of Culture and the Ministry of Strategy and Finance, which was required.

Choi is also accused of destroying Mount Gariwang, where a ski slope will be built for the Games. The mountain is home to a forest that is at least 500 years old. It is on the list of national natural recreational forests. More than 50,000 trees have been cut down so far, according to reports.

The former governor Kim is also being targeted for causing the regional government to fall 919 billion won into debt due to the construction of the Alpensia Resort.

“The project cost the province 1.68 trillion won, but the resort failed to make a profit as planned and the provincial government now has a huge deficit.”

The civic groups had urged the organizing committee to share the Games with Japan, which has a lot of relevant facilities, but the committee rejected that idea.

The coalition consists of environmental and sports groups.