Seoul mayor says capital ideal for 2036 Olympics, open to co-hosting
Oh Se-hoon said Seoul’s existing Olympic infrastructure and planned Jamsil complex strengthen its bid, while North Jeolla must provide a concrete co-hosting plan.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a press conference at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on Oct. 7 to mark his 100th day in office since being elected for his fifth term as Seoul mayor in June.SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon said Wednesday that Seoul is the “ideal choice” to host the 2036 Summer Olympics and that it would have “no reason” to turn down a request from North Jeolla to co-host the event.
“Seoul already has the legacy of the 1988 Olympics, with the city’s Olympic facilities still maintained and managed today,” Oh said during a press conference at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul to mark his 100th day in office since being elected for his fifth term as Seoul mayor in June.
He also said the capital is undergoing the construction of new facilities fit to host the Olympics, particularly the Jamsil Sports MICE Complex in Songpa District, southern Seoul, an integrated sports, convention, business and leisure hub slated for completion by 2031.
“From the [International Olympic Committee’s] perspective as the decision-maker, it would naturally prefer a place where it can host an excellent Olympics as efficiently as possible without running a deficit,” Oh said, pointing to Seoul as the best option.
The problem is that if the 2036 Summer Olympics were to take place across Seoul and Jeonju, logistical issues would arise, including the cost and time of travel between the two cities, as well as the locations for the accommodation for both athletes and media personnel, he said.
Oh said Seoul cannot further develop its position until North Jeolla, which has officially announced its bid to host the event and proposed co-hosting it with the capital, presents more specific plans.
“But we are willing to accept whatever decision is put forward,” he said. “The ultimate goal is to be selected as the host city.”
During the press conference, Oh laid out the capital’s core policy direction of heightening citizens’ quality of life.
Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon speaks during a press conference at Seoul City Hall in central Seoul on Oct. 7 to mark his 100th day in office since being elected for his fifth term as Seoul mayor in June.SEOUL METROPOLITAN GOVERNMENT
“Seoul now has many more spaces where people can relax […] so investment in that area is relatively declining,” Oh said. “I believe the city should continue to focus its policy efforts on maximizing the people’s sense of leisure, abundance and happiness in their everyday lives.”
Examples include the city’s Wrist Doctor 9988 health and wellness app and community-based spaces designed to address loneliness and social isolation.
Regarding the Sewoon District 4 redevelopment project, which has been at the center of controversy over concerns that high-rise buildings will overshadow the nearby historical landscape of Jongmyo Shrine, Oh emphasized that the project will rather bring greater value to the neighborhood.
He expressed confidence that once the nearly six-decade-old district is replaced with a massive green space to be built alongside the high-rises, Jongmyo Shrine will be “transformed into a site where its cultural heritage value truly stands out.”
Meanwhile, Oh is embroiled in a critical legal case, having been convicted of violating political fund-raising laws after a supporter paid for opinion polls conducted ahead of the 2021 mayoral by-election. The appeal court’s ruling on Oct. 23 will determine whether Oh can remain in office.
“The moment of truth is approaching,” Oh told a reporter. “To put it simply, we submitted a lot of new evidence to the appeals court that was initially not presented in the lower court trial. We’re now humbly awaiting the ruling.”
