[COVER STORY] North Jeolla Province's 2036 Olympic bid falters as it seeks to co-host with Seoul

The North Jeolla Province has made an attempt to collaborate with Seoul in its bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics as co-hosts, sparking discussions regarding the province's growing challenges in hosting the games independently. The province's bid for Jeonju to host the games appears to be losing traction due to concerns over the insufficient infrastructure.

Despite maintaining that it is not giving up its bid for the Games on its own, the provincial government is employing a strategy to bolster its chances of being selected. The co-hosting proposal presents a growing burden for the province as it grapples with the lack of necessary facilities. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has consequently delayed its evaluation of the province's plan for the event hosting.

Governor Lee Won-taeg of North Jeolla Province recently met with Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon to deliberate on the co-hosting bid. "The governor met with Seoul officials to discuss the broader framework for a joint bid, and we are currently awaiting Seoul’s official response. At the working level, we have formally requested that they submit their proposal on the co-hosting arrangement," announced a spokesperson from the provincial government.