S. Korean Olympic chief to meet with IOC head over Olympic bid
Ryu Seung-min, head of the South Korean Olympic body, will meet with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach next month to express South Korea's drive to host the 2036 Summer Games.
The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) said Thursday that Ryu will meet with Bach at Olympic House in Lausanne, Switzerland, on April 8.
Ryu, elected as KSOC president in January, was an IOC member from 2016 to 2024, in his capacity as a member of the Athletes' Commission voted on by fellow Olympians.
"In his meeting, KSOC President Ryu will strongly express South Korea's intent to host the 2036 Summer Olympics," the KSOC said in a statement.
North Jeolla Province, located in the southwestern part of the country, was chosen over Seoul on Feb. 28 as the South Korean candidate for the 2036 Olympic bid. The KSOC said officials from the North Jeolla provincial government and the central government will accompany Ryu to Switzerland.
"At the meeting, Ryu will highlight that South Korea's preparations for the bid are going smoothly and that North Jeolla is putting together a bid strategy in line with the IOC's push for sustainable operations," the KSOC added. "He will also point out that South Korea can play an important role in realizing the value of peace and acceptance through sport, and that South Korea will work closely with the IOC going forward."
A task force put together for the bid, made up of officials from the government, the KSOC and North Jeolla Province, held its first meeting on March 12.
Seoul hosted the only Summer Games in South Korea so far in 1988. South Korea will try to become the seventh country -- joining the United States, France, Britain, Australia, Japan and Greece -- to stage multiple Summer Olympics. The country held the Winter Olympics in 2018 in the eastern province of Gangwon, with PyeongChang holding snow and sliding events and Gangneung hosting ice events.
The IOC has done away with a direct vote by its members with multiple candidate cities in the race.
Instead, the IOC's Future Host Commission screens potential host cities and makes a recommendation to the IOC Executive Board, which then decides whether to open a "targeted dialogue" with one or more "preferred hosts."
During the targeted dialogue phase, each preferred host must fill out the IOC's Future Host Questionnaire and provide guarantees that back up its bid submission.
The Executive Board will decide whether to put one or more preferred hosts up for a vote by IOC members.
Seoul pursued a joint bid with Pyongyang for the 2032 Summer Olympics but the IOC chose Brisbane as its partner for the targeted dialogue in February 2021. Brisbane then garnered support from 72 out of 80 IOC delegates in a yes-or-no vote to win the bid five months later. (Yonhap)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Yoon, wife to face special counsel probes
577 prosecutors, investigators allotted to look into ex-first couple President Lee Jae-myung's Cabinet on Tuesday passed bills to open three special counsel investigations into former President Yoon Suk Yeol and his wife Kim Keon Hee. The bills are intended to "end the insurrection" that the Lee administration and the ruling Democratic Party of Korea accuse Yoon of instigating with his short-lived martial law decree on Dec. 3, 2024. At the second Cabinet meeting since Lee took office last week, the Democratic Party-led bills passed into law to bring together 577 prosecutors and investigators in total to investigate the former first couple. The combined size of the legal teams involved in the investigations is comparable to a district attorney's office. With Tuesday's passage, a special counsel investigation will look into if Yoon committed either insurrection or treason by trying to impose martial law. Yoon declared martial law late in the evening of Dec. 3, only to lift it six hours later following a National Assembly resolution that opposed it. The Democratic Party contends that Yoon attempted to provoke military action from North Korea with his hawkish policies to lay the groundwork for the declaration of martial law. Yoon's Ministry of National Defense playing anti-Kim Jong-un regime broadcasts along the inter-Korean borders from June 2024 was one example of the former administration deliberately seeking military confrontation with North Korea, according to the Democratic Party. Before their resumption last year, the border broadcasts had been used by the South Korean military as a psychological warfare tactic in the past, before they were halted in 2018 under then-President Moon Jae-in. The Democratic Party also claims that Yoon sent drones across the border into North Korea in October 2024, echoing Pyongyang's accusations that the South Korean military was behind the alleged drone infiltration. Yoon allegedly attempting to instigate an armed conflict with North Korea in the run-up to his martial law decree qualifies as "treason," the Democratic Party claimed, on top of being a "rebellion against the Constitution, which is to say, insurrection." Yoon's wife Kim is set to face a separate special counsel investigation that will scrutinize allegations she was involved in the then-ruling People Power Party's nomination of candidates for a National Assembly seat in the 2022 by-election. Another special counsel investigation would revisit the death of a Marine in July 2023. Cpl. Chae Su-geun, 20, died when he was swept away in moving water during a search and rescue operation to locate flood victims in a rain-swollen river in Yecheon, North Gyeongsang Province. The Democratic Party says Yoon's presidential office tried to impede the preliminary probe into Chae's death at the time to cover up possible wrongdoing at the top. Special counsels will be given as long as 170 days to investigate Yoon and his wife. Yoon was removed from office on April 4 in a unanimous ruling by the Constitutional Court over the martial law debacle, leading South Korea to hold an early presidential election on June 3.
Korea Herald
an hour ago
- Korea Herald
Petition to expel Lee Jun-seok from Assembly surpasses 500,000
Rep. Lee Jun-seok, presidential candidate for the minor conservative New Reform Party in the June 3 election, is facing mounting public backlash over a misogynistic remark made during a televised debate, with more than 500,000 people signing a petition calling for his removal from the National Assembly. During the May 27 debate, Lee brought up a vulgar expression involving chopsticks and a part of the female body while questioning Social Democratic Party candidate Kwon Young-guk. The reference was aimed at attacking Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung, alleging it had been used in an online post by Lee's son — but the backlash soon turned toward Lee himself. The remark was swiftly condemned for its explicit content and lack of relevance. As of 2 p.m. Tuesday, more than 502,000 people had signed the petition, just six days after it was posted on the National Assembly's official website on June 4. By law, petitions with over 50,000 signatures in 30 days are reviewed by a standing committee. The signatures far exceeded a previous petition filed last December seeking the impeachment of then-President Yoon Suk Yeol, which drew around 400,000 signatures following his botched Dec. 3 martial law declaration. 'The lawmaker has long promoted discriminatory and divisive rhetoric, drawing a line between so-called 'citizens' and 'non-citizens,' particularly targeting women and minorities,' the petition reads. The backlash stems not only from the remark itself, but from what many see as a reflection of Lee's broader political trajectory. His support has largely come from men in their 20s and 30s, many of whom have expressed discontent with gender equality policies in recent years. According to exit polls by three major broadcasters, he secured 37.2 percent of the vote among men in their 20s — well above Democratic Party candidate Lee Jae-myung's 24 percent in the same group. Since the mid-2010s, gender issues have become increasingly polarizing in South Korean politics. Lee built his political identity by appealing to young men who felt marginalized by the liberal Moon Jae-in administration's progressive agenda. Lee frequently amplified issues gaining traction in male-dominated online communities — such as opposition to gender quotas, protests at women's universities and criticism of disability rights activism — reinforcing his image as a voice for those disaffected. He also pledged to abolish the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family during both the 2022 and 2025 presidential campaigns, framing it as a symbol of preferential treatment toward women. The message resonated with his core supporters but was widely criticized as socially divisive. Despite the public outcry, Lee has stopped short of a full apology. At a press briefing, he said the reference was intended to scrutinize the opposing candidate, though he acknowledged the level of public offense it caused. 'If I could go back, I wouldn't bring it up,' he said. 'I'll be more careful with my expressions going forward.' Political commentator Choi In-han said the backlash reflects more than a single misstep. 'Lee Jun-seok's rise has been driven by a politics of division, drawing lines across gender, generation and even disability,' Choi told The Korea Herald. 'This controversy is not just about a single remark, but about how his entire political approach is being evaluated.' 'Running for president in one's 40s is itself a testament to political skill,' Choi added. 'But without a sincere apology — not just softened language — his future prospects could be severely damaged.' The controversy has drawn comparisons to a similar case in 2011 involving former lawmaker Kang Yong-seok, who was accused of making sexually inappropriate remarks about female broadcasters. Kang was expelled from his party and suspended from Assembly activities for one month. He later ran as an independent in the 2012 general election but failed to retain his seat. flylikekite@
Korea Herald
2 hours ago
- Korea Herald
Lee invites Xi to APEC summit as both vow to forge 'new ties'
Leaders agree to improve mutual sentiment by expanding people-to-people exchanges South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has formally invited Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend this year's APEC summit in South Korea, as both leaders pledged to chart a new course in bilateral relations, the presidential office in Seoul said Tuesday. Lee and Xi agreed on the need for close cooperation during their 30-minute first phone call, which began at 11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, six days after Lee's inauguration on June 4, presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said during a televised press briefing. "The two leaders agreed to maintain close communication across various fields to forge new Korea–China relations, taking the inauguration of the new Korean administration as an opportunity," Kang said. The introductory phone call came at a critical juncture as this year holds particular significance for Seoul-Beijing ties, with expectations rising for Xi's first visit to South Korea since July 2014, on the occasion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit. South Korea will host the APEC summit in early November in the city of Gyeongju, North Gyeongsang Province, while China will host the summit next year. "The two leaders also agreed on the need for close cooperation between Korea and China — this year's and next year's respective APEC hosts — to ensure the successful hosting of the APEC summit in Gyeongju," Kang said. "President Lee invited President Xi to the APEC summit in Gyeongju this November, expressing his hope for closer consultations with President Xi to further advance bilateral relations," Kang added. The phone call also touched upon China's role in resolving the nuclear issue. Kang explained: "Lee asked China to play a constructive role in achieving denuclearization and peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula." "In response, President Xi stated that peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are in the common interest of both (South) Korea and China, and that China will make efforts to help resolve the issue and promote peace and stability on the peninsula," Kang told the briefing. Another key topic of discussion was improving Seoul–Beijing ties across the board, including addressing the strained public sentiment between the two countries. Kang also underscored that the two leaders 'pledged to work together to deliver tangible results in practical areas such as economic cooperation — outcomes that the people of both countries can genuinely experience.' The two leaders 'agreed to strengthen mutual communication and expand people-to-people and cultural exchanges to enhance friendly sentiment between their citizens,' Kang added. Lee expressed his hopes for "pursuing active exchanges and cooperation across a wide range of fields — including the economy, security, culture, and people-to-people exchanges — on the basis of mutual benefit and equality," according to Kang. Kang further explained that the phone call was 'conducted in a cordial and amicable atmosphere,' based on the commonality that both Lee and Xi began their political careers at the local level. According to an announcement from the Chinese government, Xi called for 'promoting the China–South Korea strategic cooperative partnership to a higher level' during the phone call, repeatedly emphasizing the importance of developing ties between Seoul and Beijing. Xi also stressed the need to 'deepen people-to-people exchanges to increase mutual understanding and consolidate the foundation of public support,' as well as to 'strengthen exchanges at all levels and in all fields to enhance strategic mutual trust,' Beijing added. China has implemented a visa-free policy for South Korean passport holders, effective from November of last year until the end of this year, to promote people-to-people exchanges. Under this policy, South Korean nationals entering China for business, tourism, family visits, or transit can stay without a visa for up to 15 days. The sequence of Lee's phone calls with the leaders of the US, China, and Japan has drawn close attention — particularly regarding whether he would speak with Xi or Ishiba first. Xi is the third leader with whom Lee has held a phone call since his inauguration on June 4, which took place immediately after the June 3 snap election, with no transition period. Lee previously spoke for around 20 minutes with US President Donald Trump on June 6 and for 25 minutes with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba on Monday. With Trump having confirmed his attendance at the G7 summit and Ishiba also expected to participate as Japan's representative, Lee will attend the summit in Alberta, Canada, on June 16–17 as an observer, at the invitation of the Canadian hosts. This sets the stage for his first in-person interactions with both leaders.
