[사설]Before the boom of ‘Gangwon Winter Youth’, of resolving internal conflicts

The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games is a year away. Gangwon-do and the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Organizing Committee (hereinafter referred to as the Organizing Committee) are jumping into preparations for the event in earnest, starting with the ‘G-1 Year’ commemorative event held in Yongpyong Resort in Pyeongchang on the 19th. . Above all, the fact that youth from all over the world can come to Gangwon-do, South Korea to spread the Olympic values ​​of inclusion, peace, reconciliation and cooperation through sport is the important meaning of hosting the Games. Provincial and organizational committees should move more dynamically. The organizing committee, which recently expanded its staff to 170 people, more than double the previous number through reorganization, sparked a boom with the announcement of the official mascot and theme song.

The organizing committee decided to focus on building and adding to the facilities infrastructure until the first half of this year. The idea is to complete all the preparations, including the entry procedures for 2,900 athletes from 70 countries in 15 sports, and organize accommodation during the event, a month before the event, and welcome guests through exercises. The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games will be an opportunity for Gangwon-do to become a global city again. In addition, since Gangwon-do is the only region in the world that is divided between North and South Korea, it will be possible to rekindle the Olympic spirit of pursuing world peace. Also, when North Korea’s participation is decided, it may open the door to inter-Korean exchanges. The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics offer a glimpse of the possibility of a new turning point in inter-Korean relations, which have been under increasing pressure of late. Therefore, the ‘G-1 Year’ commemorative event and the prosperity creation plan of Gangwon-do and the Organizing Committee raise expectations. Promoting Gangwon-do to the world and doing it well can bring good wind to inter-Korean relations. Therefore, there is no reason to fundamentally oppose the purpose or motive of Gangwon-do and the Organizing Committee’s plan to hold the Games. Rather, the issues envisioned by Gangwon-do and the organizing committee should be promoted without any hindrance. The problem is that Pyeongchang residents are strongly opposed to the opening ceremony of the Gangwon 2024 Winter Youth Olympic Games, which will be held simultaneously in Gangneung and Pyeongchang.

The Organizing Committee, as well as local governments and the government, should present projects or other proposals that will fill the loss of Pyeongchang residents, and based on this, coordinate measures reasonably. The issue of where to host the opening ceremony of the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games is not one that can be decided by which region has a higher voice. First of all, the symbolism of the competition should be considered. It is also important in which region the opening ceremony should be held so that many people will come.

And if the competition is to become a world-class event, the preparation process must be thorough. Carefully considering these complex issues can prevent pre-competition self-importance. It is also difficult to dismiss the strong opposition of Pyeongchang residents as regional selfishness. Rather, it should be seen as an outpouring of love for the region. We need to listen to what they say and come up with countermeasures. The 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games should not escalate into a conflict between the two regions of Gangneung and Pyeongchang.