Prime Minister Chung Hongwon met Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russian Prime Minister Dimitry Medvedev and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach and asked for international support for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games to be hosted by Korea in February 2018.

In a meeting with President Putin at a reception during the closing ceremony of the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics on February 23, Chung called for bilateral cooperation on successfully hosting the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games. “The Sochi Winter Olympics were prepared for very well and were quite successful,” Chung said.

Chung, as prime minister of the next Winter Olympics host country, asked for Russia’s cooperation on and interest in Korea successfully hosting the 2018 PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.


In response, President Putin said he hopes that the strong bilateral relationship between the current and next Winter Olympic hosts will set a good example for the world. The president also said Pyeongchang is very well prepared to host the Olympics and that it will be a successful event.

Earlier in a meeting with Russian Prime Minister Medvedev on February 22, Chung discussed bilateral cooperation on their Olympic hosting experiences, on the Rajin-Hassan logistics project and on the natural gas pipeline project, as well as on the fishery and farming industries.

“The agreements made during our two recent bilateral summits have led to a rapid development in our countries’ relationship,” Chung said. “The Rajin-Hassan logistics project will contribute to maintaining stability in Northeast Asia and will help to improve relations between South Korea, North Korea and Russia.”

“For that purpose, it is important to maintain regional peace and stability in Northeast Asia. We welcome Russia’s policy of non-proliferation toward North Korea. If there is a guarantee of peace and stability in North Korea, the Korea-Russia relationship will improve dramatically,” Chung said, asking for Medvedev’s support for and interest in the issue.

“Bilateral cultural and human exchanges will grow through the Olympics,” Chung added, hoping that the two nations will share their experiences of hosting the Winter Olympics so that the two consecutive Winter Olympics can both be successful.



Chung also commented on Korean-born short track skater Victor An, who won three gold medals and a bronze in the discipline in Sochi.

“Koreans also showed support for Victor An’s remarkable feat in the Olympics,” Chung said, adding that An had helped make the ties between the two countries stronger.

In response, Medvedev agreed that Viktor An brought the two countries closer. “We will help Pyeongchang prepare for and successfully host the Winter Olympics,” Medvedev said.

Concerning South-North Korea relations, he said, “It is very positive that the two Koreas are communicating with each other, including the recent high-level talks. North Korea’s situation now is different than it was in the past, but we will support South-North Korea talks and help the Korean Peninsula become free from the threat of nuclear weapons.”

Medvedev also asked for more Korean investment in Russia’s farming and fishery industries, to help improve the bilateral relationship.

In response, Chung said, “We are also interested in the field and there is a need for improved bilateral cooperation. If the related ministers from both countries talked to each other and expanded their cooperation, more Korean companies would invest in those areas.”

Earlier on February 21, Chung met IOC President Thomas Bach and discussed cooperation on successfully hosting the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games and on human resource exchanges between the IOC and Korea.

“I hope the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games will be a global festival. I came here to learn about Sochi’s experience in hosting the Winter Olympics,” Chung said, asking for advice and cooperation.



In response, Bach said, “The world’s attention will move to Korea in a few days. I hope that the Korean government, the IOC and the PyeongChang Organizing Committee for the 2018 Olympic & Paralympic Winter Games will work together for the success of the Olympics.”

“It is also important for the host to do well in the Olympics for the event to be successful. I hope that Korean athletes will do well and make the Korean public feel proud. I also hope that the Korean government and Korean companies will show support for and cooperate on the PyeongChang Olympic Winter Games.”

By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
jun2@korea.kr