(LEAD) Seoul mayor says open to co-hosting 2036 Olympics with North Jeolla

Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon expressed openness to the possibility of co-hosting the 2036 Summer Olympics with North Jeolla Province in South Korea. The city has no reason to reject a request from North Jeolla, the candidate province for the Olympics, to co-host the event, according to Oh. Whatever form of proposal North Jeolla may make, it would essentially mean co-hosting the Olympics.

Oh stated he has no intention of raising objections or making specific changes to the co-hosting arrangement. North Jeolla, located about 200 kilometers south of Seoul, became South Korea's candidate to host the 2036 Olympics in February after defeating the capital in a bid. However, the province has recently considered co-hosting due to inadequate infrastructure, including accommodations, transportation, and stadiums.

North Jeolla Governor Lee Won-taeg met with Oh on September 7 to propose co-hosting the Olympic Games, with Seoul reportedly requesting major events like the opening and closing ceremonies to be held in the capital. Oh acknowledged that it is difficult for the Seoul government to form a position as North Jeolla has yet to make any practical proposal.

The mayor also noted that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) may focus on minimizing costs and inconvenience, which could lead to concerns about the feasibility of joint hosting, particularly regarding the round-trip distance between Seoul and Jeonju, a major city in North Jeolla Province. The mayor suggested that the central government should present a well-structured proposal to North Jeolla after considering the IOC's potential stance on the co-hosting arrangement.