Olympics Booster

[Anchor Lead]

The president has taken up the role of booster-in-chief for the upcoming winter games. Speaking with reporters on the newly-opened high-speed train to the host city in Gangwon-do Province, the president said he still hopes North Korea will participate at the games.

[Pkg]

In the run up to the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, President Moon Jae-in boarded the KTX train on the new Seoul to Gangneung line scheduled to open two days later. The president was accompanied by twenty citizens selected from a pool of people who had purchased tickets to Olympic events and posted pictures of their tickets. He ate a box lunch with them and said he will do his best to make the PyeongChang Olympics a celebration enjoyed by all people.

[Soundbite] Pres. Moon Jae-in : "Thank you for joining the Olympic promotion and boom-up event. I firmly believe that your support would make the PyeongChang Winter Olympics and Paralympics a celebration for all people."

President Moon also had a conversation with sports journalists onboard the train and asked for their cooperation in making the Olympics in Korea a success. He added that South Korea continues to invite North Korea to participate in the Olympics and that he is waiting patiently for the North's reply.

[Soundbite] Pres. Moon Jae-in : "I think even if North Korea decides to participate, it will confirm its participation at the last minute. Our government plans to wait with patience."

After an hour-and-40-minute train ride, President Moon got off at Gangneung Station to meet with the PyeongChang Olympic volunteers.