Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young on Feb. 5 gives a congratulatory speech at the opening ceremony for the promotional facility Korea House at the historical building Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan the day before the opening of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy. (Heo Man-jin from Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism)

By Charles Audouin

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Chae Hwi-young on Feb. 6 will attend the opening ceremony of the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy as the government's representative at San Siro Stadium in Milan.

From Feb. 4-8, the minister will be in Milan to cheer on the national team and check support conditions there. On Feb. 5, he visited the athletes' village in Milan to encourage Korean athletes and inspect the operations of the cafeteria that provides lunch boxes of Korean food.

Minister Chae also attended the opening ceremony for the promotional pavilion Korea House at the historical building Villa Necchi Campiglio in Milan and met members of the International Olympics Committee and staff from national Olympic bodies. A fashion show themed on Hanbok (traditional clothes) held at the ceremony captured visitor attention.

"Tonight, I invite you to enjoy the spirit of Korea through music, food, fashion, and many stories of K-culture," he said. "Korea will continue to uphold the Olympic values of excellence, respect, and friendship, both on and off the field of play."

President Lee Jae Myung on Feb. 5 cheers the national team for the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics in Italy at a meeting of his senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Cheong Wa Dae)

President Lee Jae Myung on Feb. 5 also encouraged the national team at a meeting of his senior secretaries at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, saying, "I cheer for the success of Team Korea along with the people."

"Over the next 15 days, I hope that all of our athletes can fully utilize the skills they've developed so far, achieve results commensurate with the sweat and hard work they put in, and make the Republic of Korea shine."