Korean Americans Thrilled About 2018 Winter Olympics

The editor of a Korean American newspaper and shoppers at Assi Plaza, a Korean supermarket in Niles, expressed joy that the International Olympic Committee awarded the 2018 Winter Olympics to Korea on Wednesday.

'This is great news for Chicago-area Korean and Asian people," said Chris (Kyu Seop) Chung, the editor of FocusK.com, an online newspaper for Korean Americans based in Des Plaines, on Thursday.

Walking out of Assi Plaza with a full shopping cart, Noho Kim said, "I'm very glad. I look forward to having it there."

Kim, who was visiting Niles from Cincinnati, Ohio, said the development would be good for Korea economically, as well as motivate athletes.

He said people in Korea are ecstatic about getting the Olympics, particularly after 12 years' worth of efforts to win the games. 

He has skied and skated in Korea, and notes it has good venues for winter sports.

Tom Lee, who works at a bakery within Assi Plaza, said getting the Olympics will open doors for Korean athletes in winter sports, and noted Korea has good contenders in speed skating and figure skating.

Sung Lee, no relation, who works in the Assi Plaza food court, said, "This is good news," and noted the last time Korea had the Olympics (summer) was in 1988. 

"Skiing is very popular there," he said. "They even have indoor places with fake snow where you can ski in summertime."

Chung, the editor, said he has gone skiing and snowboarding in Korea at Yong-Pyong Ski Resort and Bo-Kwang Phoenix Park, both not far from Seoul. 

"South Korea's ski resorts are equipped with excellent facilities," he said, adding transportation there is easily accessible, drawing tourists from Singapore and Southeast Asia, where it's too warm for snow.