Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province has made a remarkable turnaround. Breaking everyone's expectations, it has been selected as the domestic candidate site to host the 2036 Summer Olympics, surpassing Seoul Special City.

Jeonbuk Province secured 49 votes out of 61 valid votes (with 1 invalid vote) at the Korea Sports Council general assembly held at the Seoul Olympic Parktel in Songpa District, Seoul, defeating Seoul City, which garnered 11 votes, and was chosen as the domestic candidate city for the 2036 Summer Olympics.

With this, Jeonbuk Province continues its challenge for hosting the Summer Olympics in South Korea, the first time since the 1988 Seoul Olympics, after 48 years. Many anticipated it would be difficult for Jeonbuk, which entered the race later than Seoul, but it instead achieved a resounding victory.

Ahead of the vote, Kim Kwan-young, the governor of Jeonbuk, and Oh Se-hoon, the mayor of Seoul, each delivered 45-minute presentations. The two took the stage as presenters, and after the presentations, there was a 15-minute question-and-answer session.

Following the evaluation committee's report, the delegates decided on the final candidate site through a secret ballot. Out of about 120 delegates, a total of 74, two delegates from each of the 37 Olympic sports, had the right to vote. On that day, 62 cast their votes.

The result was a victory for Jeonbuk Province by a margin of 38 votes. It appears that Jeonbuk's emphasis on 'regional city solidarity' for balanced national development, a recent trend in Olympic hosting, was a key factor in its victory.

Jeonbuk Province secured votes by planning to host venues and key facilities in an environmentally friendly manner and to distribute events across local cities such as Gwangju, Chungnam Hongseong, Chungbuk Cheongju, and Jeonnam Goheung. Jeonbuk has gained an opportunity to redeem itself after the disastrous '2023 Saemangeum World Scout Jamboree' two years ago.

In contrast, the challenge from Seoul City, which dreams of hosting the second Summer Olympics, was thwarted by a significant vote margin. Seoul attempted to leverage its successful experience from the 1988 Seoul Olympics and existing infrastructure to appeal its competitiveness, but it fell short against Jeonbuk.

Now, Jeonbuk Province begins official competition with other countries. Indonesia (Nusantara), Turkey (Istanbul), India (city undecided), and Chile (Santiago) have already expressed their intention to bid for the 2036 Summer Olympics. Qatar (Doha), Italy (Florence), and Denmark (Copenhagen) are also reportedly interested in entering the race. The selection of the host city for 2036 is expected to take place after this year.

[Photo] Jeonbuk Special Self-Governing Province.

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