Government Vows Corruption-Free PyeongChang Olympics

(ATR) As part of an anti-corruption push, South KoreanPrime Minister Kyo Ahn Hwang told reporters on Tuesday that he plans to oversee "big state projects in real-time" going forward. He said these projects would include the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics.

"So far, the handling of corruption has been focused on reactive measures and punishments," Hwang said.

"But with this kind of approach, it is hard to fundamentally recover the national and social damage incurred by corruption."

Anti-corruption measures will examine 16 public sectors that receive $199 million in government funds. An estimated $11 billion is budgeted for infrastructure and staging the 2018 Games.

Corruption scandals are common for South Korea business and government.

Prime MinisterWan KooLee quit his job last year over allegations that he received an estimated $27,000 from a businessman when he was running for a parliamentary seat in 2013.

The last three IOC members from Korea have been directly linked to corruption allegations in business dealings or academic credentials.

So far there is no indication of corruption involving PyeongChang, the first winter Olympics in South Korea.

A total of 28 Olympic test events will be staged from Feb. 2016 through to April 2017. The program begins with the Feb. 6-7 FIS Ski World Cup at the Jeongseon Alpine Centre. Later in February, the FIS Snowboard World Cup and FIA Freestyle Ski World Cup take place at Bokwang Snow Park.

The IOC's 2018 Olympic Coordination Commission led by Gunilla Lindberg holds its sixth inspection in PyeongChang March 14-18.

Written byNicole Bennett

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