Chairman of Samsung Electronics Lee Kun-hee shed tears of joy and cheered when Pyeongchang was announced as the host of the 2018 Winter Olympic Games. As an International Olympic Committee member, Lee spent 170 days overseas over the past year and a half to drum up support for Pyeongchang’s Olympic bid. He is said to have met with some 100 other IOC members in the campaign for Pyeongchang.

The nation’s Winter Olympic bid committee Chairman Cho Yang-ho led the nation’s preparations for the on-site inspection of Pyeongchang by an IOC delegation in February. He also attended 22 international sports events and competitions to promote Pyeongchang’s bid.

As a former IOC member, Korean Olympic Committee President Park Yong-sung called on support from international sports figures for Pyeongchang.

Former Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-sun worked as the special envoy of the bid committee. He announced Pyeongchang’s bid 12 years ago when he was serving as Gangwon Province governor.