(ATR) Just days into her appointment as the new minister of culture, sports and tourism, Yoon Seon Cho pledges full support for the PyeongChang Winter Olympics.
Named to the post a week ago, she visited PyeongChang Sep. 9 to meet staff and see venues being constructed for the Games.
"If Seoul 1988 put South Korea on the global map, then PyeongChang 2018 should make us earn admiration from the rest of the world," Cho said during her visit.
"The key is to portray South Korea as an advanced sports, cultural and tourism nation," she said.
"I am sure there will be difficulties along the way, but I hope you will all keep in mind how much the people wanted to bring the Winter Olympics home," Cho told organizers.
"As the Cabinet minister in charge, I will spare no efforts in providing necessary support."
At the same time, Cho said organizing committees can no longer be measured by the size of their budgets, noting that host cities need to be more frugal.
Cho visited construction for the PyeongChang Olympic Plaza, which will host the opening and closing ceremonies and the Alpensia Sliding Centre, the venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton. In nearby Gangneung she took a look at the venues being prepared for hockey and skating.
Cho will meet next week with IOC President Thomas Bach when he comes to visit South Korea.
Cho is a lawyer by profession, receiving her degree from Columbia in New York City. She has a wide range of experience in government and most recently served as minister of gender equity and family. She is known as one of the close allies of Korean President Geun Hye Park
Ex 2018 Chief Tries to Rescue Shipping Company
Former 2018 Winter Olympics CEO Yang Ho Cho (no relationto the sports minister) will spend upwards of $27 million to help rescue his company’s shipping business.
Cho resigned his PyeongChang 2018 post in May as part of efforts to save Hanjin Shipping, Korea’s largest, part of the Hanjin Group, the chaebol of the Cho family that includes a range of companies including Korean Air.
Hanjin Shipping has lost money for years, exacerbated by a worldwide glut of ships and slumping demand that had affected the entire shipping industry. Mismanagement by the former chairwoman of the company, a sister-in-law of Cho, is also blamed for the Hanjin collapse.
As part of the rescue plan for Hanjin Shipping, Cho has agreed to provide $27 million he will raise from private sources. Korean Airlines will supply another $57 million to help save the shipping company.
Written by Ed Hula.
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