South Korea’s bid to host the 2036 Summer Olympics has entered a new phase after North Jeolla Province asked Seoul to join its proposal as a co-host — but Seoul has yet to give a formal answer.
North Jeolla officials recently submitted a joint-hosting proposal to the Seoul Metropolitan Government following talks between North Jeolla Gov. Lee Won-taeg and Seoul Mayor Oh Se-hoon. The proposal is intended to combine North Jeolla’s bid with Seoul’s existing sports facilities, transportation network and accommodation infrastructure.
For now, however, the proposal remains under discussion.
Seoul’s Decision Could Reshape Korea’s 2036 Olympic Bid
North Jeolla was selected as South Korea’s domestic candidate for the 2036 Olympics in February 2025, defeating Seoul in the Korean selection process. North Jeolla received 49 of 61 votes, while Seoul received 11.
The province originally planned to pursue a bid centered on Jeonju.
But questions surrounding infrastructure and the ability to accommodate an event on the scale of the Olympics have prompted North Jeolla to explore a partnership with Seoul.
Provincial officials argue that combining the two regions could strengthen South Korea’s international proposal while allowing North Jeolla to retain its Olympic ambitions. Officials have also emphasized that they have not abandoned the possibility of pursuing a solo bid if negotiations with Seoul fail.
Why Seoul and North Jeolla Are Having Difficulty Reaching an Agreement
One of the biggest issues is how the major Olympic events would be divided.
According to Korea Times reporting, Seoul has indicated that if a joint bid proceeds, it would want to host major events such as the opening and closing ceremonies. It remains unclear whether North Jeolla has accepted those conditions.
The question of who hosts the most prominent events is only one part of a broader negotiation involving venues, transportation, accommodation, financing and the overall structure of the bid.
A joint proposal would also require the two governments to agree on how responsibilities and costs would be shared.
Sports Ministry Puts Review on Hold
The uncertainty has already affected South Korea’s domestic Olympic-bid process.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism postponed its review of North Jeolla’s hosting proposal after the province began pursuing the joint-bid option. The ministry had been preparing to evaluate whether the original Jeonju-centered plan met the requirements for hosting the Games.
Ministry officials have emphasized that an Olympic hosting plan must satisfy detailed infrastructure requirements, including transportation access, hotel capacity, an athletes’ village and facilities for media operations.
If the proposed co-hosting structure represents a substantial change to the existing plan, the domestic selection process may have to be revisited.
Yonhap reported that North Jeolla itself requested the postponement while discussions about the joint bid continue.
North Jeolla Says the Solo Bid Is Still Alive
Despite the shift toward co-hosting, North Jeolla officials have rejected the idea that they have simply abandoned their original plan.
Provincial officials say the Seoul partnership is being considered as a strategy to strengthen the bid, particularly by using Seoul’s existing infrastructure.
If negotiations fail, North Jeolla says it can still submit its previously prepared solo proposal for evaluation.
Gov. Lee has indicated that he expects Seoul to make its position known after the Chuseok holiday.
The Clock Is Already Ticking
The timing is important because the international Olympic bidding process is moving forward.
The final bid plan must eventually be submitted to the International Olympic Committee (IOC), with Korea’s domestic proposal needing to be settled well before that stage.
Korea Times reported that the final bid plan is due to the IOC by March 2027.
That leaves Seoul and North Jeolla with limited time to settle questions about whether they will compete together, separately or restructure the existing proposal.
What Happens Next?
For now, there is no final Seoul-North Jeolla agreement.
Three elements remain particularly important:
- Seoul’s formal response to the co-hosting proposal
- How venues and major ceremonies would be divided
- Whether the sports ministry will resume its review under a joint-hosting framework
The outcome will determine how South Korea proceeds with its attempt to host the 2036 Summer Olympics.
For North Jeolla, the joint proposal represents a potential way to combine regional ambitions with Seoul’s established infrastructure. For Seoul, accepting the proposal would mean becoming part of a bid it previously lost at the domestic selection stage.
The next major development could therefore come after Chuseok, when Seoul is expected to clarify whether it is prepared to move forward with North Jeolla — or whether the province will have to return to its original solo Olympic plan.
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