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South Korean President Moon Jae-in and International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach at the UN headquarters in New York on Sept. 24. (Blue House photo pool)

During a visit to the US to attend the UN General Assembly, South Korean President Moon Jae-in asked the top Olympic official to promote the idea of a joint inter-Korean bid for the 2032 Summer Olympics. Moon apparently hopes to use the games to advance the Korean Peninsula Peace Process, just as he did with the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.

“South Korea’s hope is that the passion for peace that began at Pyeongchang last year will lead to an Olympics jointly hosted by South and North Korea in 2032, bringing peace to completion on the Korean Peninsula. I ask for your help, and the help of the IOC, to make that possible,” Moon said during his meeting with International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Thomas Bach at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday.

“North Korea’s participation in the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, the South and North Korean teams’ combined entrance, and their fielding of unified teams made the games the most successful Olympics for peace, as well as a decisive factor in the subsequent inter-Korean and North Korea-US dialogue. We have your proactive support and cooperation, and that of the IOC, to thank for such a miraculous development,” Moon said.

During his congratulatory address for Liberation Day in August, Moon expressed his determination to hold a joint Olympics in Seoul and Pyongyang in 2032. This proposal reflects Moon’s belief that, during the process of working together to field joint teams in Olympics events and host the games, South and North Korea will reinforce peace on the Korean Peninsula.

“The mission of the IOC is helping to promote understanding and peace on the Korean Peninsula. What I can say is that you can continue to count on our cooperation at the IOC in the future, Bach said after hearing Moon’s request.

“A peaceful Olympics is only possible when the games aren’t politicized and when their neutrality is assured,” Bach added.

Despite Japan’s retaliatory trade measures against South Korea, Moon said that Seoul would take part in the Tokyo Olympics next year and cooperate to ensure the games’ success.

“South Korea intends to take part and work together [with Japan] to ensure that the East Asian ‘relay Olympics’ — which began with the Pyeongchang Olympics this past winter and will continue with the Tokyo Olympics next summer and the Beijing Winter Olympics in 2022 — will be a harmonious occasion and a successful event that will bring about shared prosperity in East Asia. We hope that the IOC will also provide active encouragement and support in order to further reinforce amicable and cooperative relations between the countries of East Asia,” Moon said.

This conveys Moon’s belief that cultural and sports exchange should continue despite South Koreans’ boycott on Japanese products and travel to Japan and also serves to underscore the flexible attitude of the South Korean government.

By Seong Yeon-cheol, staff reporter

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