Seoul? North Jeolla? Both? South Korea's 2036 Olympics' plans

Despite losing the domestic vote to the south-western province, the capital is not ready to abandon its ambitions. Mayor Oh Se-hoon opened the door to a joint bid, pointing to the capital's 1988 Games legacy as a major asset.尽管在国内针对西南部省份的投票中失利，首尔并未准备放弃申办雄心。市长吴世勋为联合申办敞开了大门，并指出首尔1988年奥运会的遗产是其一大优势。

The Seoul official has extended an olive branch to North Jeolla over the possibility of jointly staging the 2036 Summer Olympic Games in South Korea. North Jeolla, located roughly 200 kilometres south of the megalopolis, defeated the capital in February 2025 and remains the country's official representative in the international race. Seoul therefore has no independent candidate status, but Oh believes the two administrations could ultimately share hosting responsibilities if North Jeolla proposes a joint model.首尔官方就2036年夏季奥运会在韩国联合举办的可能性向全罗北道伸出橄榄枝。全罗北道位于这座大都市以南约200公里处，于2025年2月击败首尔，仍是韩国在这场国际申办竞争中的官方代表。因此首尔不具备独立申办资格，但吴认为若全罗北道提出联合办赛模式，两地政府最终可共同承担举办职责。

"Whatever proposal North Jeolla puts forward would, in essence, amount to co-hosting," Oh said Wednesday during a press conference at Seoul City Hall marking his first 100 days since being elected to a fifth term. "I intend to accept it". His remarks revived several of the arguments Seoul deployed during its unsuccessful attempt to secure the national nomination.“全罗北道提出的任何提案，本质上都等同于联合举办，”吴周三在首尔市政厅举行的新闻发布会上表示，这是他第五次当选后的首个百日纪念活动。“我打算接受这一提案。”他的言论再次提及了首尔在争取全国提名未果期间所采用的多项论据。

Chief among them is a major strength: the heritage of the 1988 edition.其中最主要的一大优势是：1988年奥运会的遗产。

"Seoul already has the legacy of the 1988 Olympics, and the city's Olympic facilities are still maintained and operated today," the mayor explained. That existing infrastructure will eventually be supplemented by the Jamsil MICE Sports Complex in Songpa district, a major development combining sport, conventions, business and leisure facilities which is scheduled for completion in 2031.“首尔拥有1988年奥运会的遗产，如今该市的奥运设施仍在维护和运营中，”市长解释道。现有的基础设施最终将得到松坡区蚕室会展体育综合体的补充，这是一个集体育、会议、商务和休闲设施于一体的大型项目，预计2031年竣工。

Oh believes such infrastructure could prove particularly attractive to the International Olympic Committee, which in recent bidding cycles has increasingly stressed the importance of controlling costs and making greater use of existing venues. "From the International Olympic Committee's perspective, it would naturally prefer a place capable of delivering excellent Games as efficiently as possible and without running a deficit," he said, before describing Seoul as the 'ideal option'.吴认为，此类基础设施可能会被国际奥委会</b>视为特别有吸引力的选择。在最近几轮申办周期中，国际奥委会越来越强调控制成本和更多利用现有场馆的重要性。“从国际奥委会的角度来看，自然更希望找到一个能以最高效率举办精彩赛事且不出现赤字的地方，”他表示，并将首尔称为“理想之选”。

Geography, however, is where the problem sits.然而，地理因素正是问题所在。

A bid divided between Seoul and Jeonju would have to address journeys of between two and three hours, alongside questions surrounding accommodation for athletes, delegations and the international media. Oh acknowledged that any shared model would have to be examined from the IOC's perspective and said Seoul first needed to see a more detailed proposal from North Jeolla before adopting a definitive position.将申办权分摊给首尔和全州，就必须解决两到三小时的行程问题，同时还要解决运动员、代表团和国际媒体的住宿相关事宜。吴承认，任何联合申办模式都必须从国际奥委会的角度进行考量，并表示首尔需要先看到全罗北道提交的更详细提案，才能确定最终立场。

The response from Jeonbuk was also positive, as provincial authorities claimed they would continue consultations with the Seoul Metropolitan Government in an effort to strengthen the bid's international competitiveness and move discussions from broad political intent towards practical planning. Whatever formula eventually emerges, the objective remains unchanged: to ensure that South Korea's proposal survives the international process and ultimately secures the 2036 Games. An edition which, for the time being, is overflowing with candidacies.全北的回应也十分积极，该省当局表示，他们将继续与首尔市政府进行磋商，以提高申办的国际竞争力，并将讨论从宽泛的政治意向转向具体的规划。无论最终采用何种方案，目标都不会改变：确保韩国的提案在国际程序中顺利通过，并最终获得2036年奥运会的举办权。就目前而言，这一届奥运会的申办竞争**已经充满了多个候选城市**。

The Olympic discussion is also unfolding at a politically sensitive moment for Oh. The Seoul mayor is facing legal proceedings under political-finance legislation concerning opinion polls paid for by a supporter ahead of the 2021 by-election. An appeal ruling due on Friday 23 October could have important consequences for his continuation in office.关于奥运会的讨论也在吴的政治敏感时刻展开。这位首尔市长正面临根据政治资金相关法律提起的法律诉讼，此事涉及2021年补选前由一名支持者出资进行的民意调查。定于10月23日（周五）作出的上诉裁决，可能会对他能否继续任职产生重要影响。

So while Seoul attempts to manoeuvre its way back onto the Olympic map, the political future of the man pressing its case remains subject to a very different contest much closer to home.因此，在首尔努力重新登上奥运版图之际，推动此事的那个人的政治前途，却要面临一场近在咫尺、性质截然不同的较量。