KTO Malaysia partners up with PyeongChang

The countdown for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games is shown across Malaysia. 

The Korea Tourism Organization (KTO) in Malaysia hosted the launch of the "Wow! PyeongChang! Supporters Program" at the Korea Plaza in Kuala Lumpur on Feb. 11, in conjunction with the countdown for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games. After a long wait, the games are now just under one year  away. The "Wow! PyeongChang! Supporters Program" is a global group of supporters organized by the Korea Tourism Organization. The participating countries are Korea, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, the Philippines and Turkey.

Korea has been preparing for the Winter Olympics since 2003. The first time was in 2010. However, Vancouver won the bid. The second time in 2014 Sochi won the bid. Korea is successful in the third attempt in 2018. The PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics will be the second Olympics in Korea, 30 years after the 1988 Seoul Olympics. There will be approximately 95 countries and approximately 50,000 people joining in the Olympic Games this time. The games will be held from Feb. 9 to 25, over 17 days, in Pyeongchang, Gangneung and Jeongseon, all in Gangwon-do Province. Gangwon-do is located approximately 180 kilometers east of Seoul. The slogan is, "Passion. Connected." "Passion" symbolizes the launch of a new era of festivity and hospitality. "Connected" represents Korea’s cutting edge technology that will connect traditional and modern aspects of society and transcend the generations.

The Supporters Program will run from February 2017 to February 2018. The objective is to promote the 2018 Winter Games through their own blog or social media channels, like Facebook or Instagram. They will regularly submit activity reports at the end of every quarter. Supporters are required to conduct self-study and to be proactive. We are proud of being “Wow! Pyeongchang Supporters." Every supporter is entitled to receive the following: 

- A "Wow! Pyeongchang!" Malaysia Supporters certificate and badge 

- Opportunity to be invited on a PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games site inspection tour

- Opportunity to attend the "Wow! Pyeongchang!" event and to win prizes at the Best  Supporters award ceremony. This could include flight tickets, a packaged tour and  more. 

- Opportunity to be invited to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games 

The Best Supporters award will be given out based on the following criteria.

- Number of postings and responses

- Quality of articles

- Uploading cycle 

With that, they are required to do regular posts with corresponding topics of the month, submit the quarterly reports in a given time frame, and attend regular supporters gatherings. 

The tentative topics that supporters should talk about on a monthly basis are as follows.

- Olympic Test Events 

- Preparation for the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games

- Olympic City 1 – Pyeongchang: Stadium and Tourism Resources

- Olympic City 2 – Gangneung: Stadium and Tourism Resources 

- Olympic City 3 – Jeongseon: Stadium and Tourism Resources 

- Hyoseok Culture Festival in Pyeongchang and Eateries

- Gangneung Coffee Festival in Gangneung and Eateries

- JeongseonArirang Festival in Jeongseon and Eateries

- Transportation and Ski Resorts

Many popular variety shows in Korea will also diligently promote the 2018 Winter Games. The government encourages media to promote this awesome event to attract visitors and to contribute to economic revitalization. The Wow! Pyeongchang! Malaysia Supporters will try to bring the most up-to-date information to Malaysian audiences and wish for the successful hosting of Winter Olympics.

The Winter Olympic mascots are Soohorang (수호랑), a white tiger, and  Bandabi (반다비), an Asiatic black bear. They stand outside the Korea Plaza in Malaysia and invite the Wow! Pyeongchang! Malaysia Supporters with open arms. 

Who are these two? Wow! PyeongChang! Supporter Soh Zhau Wan stands with the PyeongChang Winter Games mascots Soohorang  (수호랑) and Bandabi  (반다비). 

At the opening ceremony, Lee Younggeun, managing director of the KTO Malaysia branch, gives a speech. 

Nuri Kim, a tourism marketing manager for Gangwon-do Province, gives a presentation about the PyeongChang Winter Games. 

Wow! PyeongChang! Supporter Soh Zhau Wan receives a certificate and a uniform from the KTO director. 

Visitors and supporters can try curling at the Korea Plaza in Malaysia. 

Wow! PyeongChang! Supporter Soh Zhau Wan tries curling outside the Korea Plaza in Malaysia. 

A group picture is taken as part of this big project. 

From Feb. 13 to 17 the Korea Plaza in Malaysia hosted an intensive marketing campaign to highlight the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Games. 

Special congratulations to the 62 Wow! PyeongChang! Malaysia supporters!

By Sohzhau Wan

Korea.net Honorary Reporter

Photos: Sohzhau Wan, Korea Tourism Organization Malaysia, Hype Malaysia

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