The government will attempt a project to improve Korean athletics while supporting the local sports industry, as part of efforts to prepare for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

The Ministry of Science, ICT and Future Planning and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism on Wednesday decided on a plan to spend one-point-seven billion won, to develop technologies that can be applied to winter sports facilities and equipment.

The science ministry plans to develop core technology aimed at protecting athletes from injury and facilitate their recoveries.

The culture ministry will focus on industrial technology, developing sports gear such as helmets and shoes for winter sports.

The two ministries decided to form a consultative body on sports science, comprising of government officials in charge of the project as well as civilian experts.