Re-Elected Gangwon Governor Calls PyeongChang "Center of Attention"

(ATR) PyeongChang will have stable local political leadership through the 2018 Olympics.

Moon Soon Choi, 58, was reelected as the governor of Gangwon province, home to PyeongChang. He secured a four-year term through the opening of the Games, winning by by a nose in the June 4 gubernatorial election.

Often dubbed as the "Olympic governor," journalist-turned-politician Choi defeated Heung Jip Choi by 1.6 percent, 49.8 percent to 48.2

Joining Governor Choi once the polls closed was his his predecessor, Gwang Jae Lee. Former Governor Lee was among the PyeongChang 2018 bid leadership until he lost his governorship in January of 2011 when a court sentenced him to six months in jail with a stay of execution for two years for bribery charges. PyeongChang won the bid six months later.

Governor Choi told this reporter via phone on June 6 that the PyeongChang 2018 will be his "center of attention."

"From infrastructure to the cultural program, I can now devote myself 100 percent to the efforts to build the Games for the athletes and the Olympic Family," he said.

The current president of the PyeongChang 2018 Organizing Committee, Jin Sun Kim, served as three-time governor.

South Korea is a deeply-divided country politically, and despite being from a rival party to the ruling national party, Governor Choi said that would not impact Games preparations.

"The most important thing is to deliver the Games," he said. "Everyone shares this firm determination, regardless of difference in political party membership. The success of PyeongChang 2018 will be a key to open a door of prosperity for the people of Gangwon, and we’ll do our best."

With the Games some 45 months away, time running out for organizers, and Governor Choi said he is well aware of the need to speed up work.

One of his major campaign pledges was to "develop the Winter Games Special Economic Zone in order to link the success of the Olympics with the local development." Vowing to attract private investment in the region, Governor Choi promised to work with the local lawmakers to ease tax burdens for companies.

On the other part of the peninsula, South Korean President Geun Hye Park’s confidant, Jeong Bok Yoo won the Incheon mayor post, just some three months before the Asian Games are scheduled to take place.

After winning the election, Yoo told the national daily the JoongAng Ilbo, he will sit down with President Park for a meeting about the Asiang Games, which have long been financial headache.

Written by JoongAng Ilbo staff writer Chun Su-Jin.

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