By Xu Aiying
Photos = Kim Sunjoo
Video = Lee Jun Young

"Under the Olympic spirit of mutual respect, we will acknowledge and embrace differences to serve as role models for youth."

Shine Crew, a volunteer group for next year's Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics (Gangwon 2024), on Dec. 4 announced its official launch at Seoul Olympic Parktel in the capital's Songpa-gu District.

Actor Lee Dong-wook, who was named an honorary volunteer, recited the oath on the Olympic vision of coexistence and harmony on behalf of the group, saying, "Through the joy of being together, we will unite our strength to resolve potential difficulties and promote the value of growth through cooperation."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon on Dec. 4 gives a congratulatory speech at the inauguration ceremony for volunteers working at next year's Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics at Seoul Olympic Parktel in the capital's Songpa-gu District.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yu In Chon, the joint chairpersons of Gangwon 2024's organizing committee Jin Jongoh and Lee Sang-hwa, mayors and authorities of competition sites, and 50 volunteers attended the event.

"The volunteers are our first faces that greet guests at the Olympics, a festival aiming for solidarity and cooperation, as the protagonists for hosting the event successfully," the minister said in his congratulatory speech. "We hope that the volunteers feel a sense of pride and reward and gain valuable experience and pleasant memories."

Minister Yu (far left) on Dec. 4 takes a group photo at a ceremony with Choi Jong-gu (far right), co-chair of Gangwon 2024's organizing committee, after appointing the honorary head and members of the competition's volunteer group Shine Crew.

The name "Shine Crew" is derived from Gangwon 2024's slogan "Grow Together, Shine Forever," combining the terms "shine" from the slogan and "crew" to refer to "shining members."

The group comprises 2,030 members selected on Nov. 29 through recruitment ads run in April and May who underwent requirement and interview screenings and evaluations of English fluency. They will directly work in eight sectors of the event such as information, media operations, ceremonies, events and protocol.

From this month, volunteers will get their work location assignments and receive on-site training for their work. Their duties will officially begin from Jan. 16 at the competition's host sites in Gangwon-do Province like the city of Gangneung and counties of Pyeongchang-gun, Jeongseon-gun and Hoengseong-gun.

xuaiy@korea.kr