Lee, who replaced Korean Air boss Cho Yang-ho as head of the Organising Committee earlier this month, was speaking following a first meeting with International Olympic committee (IOC) Coordination Commission chair Gunilla Lindberg in Seoul.

He admitted that time is running out with less than two years until the Opening Ceremony but claimed they are resolving outstanding problems with venue construction.

"We have 630 days left before the Games start," said Lee, a former Industry and Energy Minister.

"That's not a lot of time, but that's still enough [to get things done].

"The hardware part of the preparations is proceeding well.

"There has been some concerns [over venue constructions], but they will be solved before the start of the test events at the end of the year."

The 67-year-old also claimed they will be able to reach 90 per cent of their target of KRW ₩870 billion (£500 million/$731 million/€651 million) in domestic sponsorships by the end of 2016.

Lee, who has spent his first official week on the job touring construction sites, insisted there are no serious financial concerns before bullishly predicted how they would "make history".

He also claimed he does have the necessary experience and expertise for the position.

"The Olympics will raise South Korea's reputation in the world and will unite all South Koreans," he said.

"We will prepare thoroughly and make the Pyeongchang Games go down in history."

"I did follow the issues of the Pyeongchang Games because I've also served as a consultant after we won the bid.

"I know people's expectations and concerns about me, but I will solve them."

Given the ongoing problems with preparations for Rio 2016, as well as the respective doping and corruption issues surrounding Sochi 2014 and Tokyo 2020, the IOC can do without a further escalation of concerns with Pyeongchang.

In a typically optimistic release today, the IOC claimed to have "strong confidence" in the new leadership team, promising even closer collaboration.

“I have no doubt that under Mr Lee’s leadership, the capable team at Pyeongchang2018 will deliver outstanding Games that have a unique Korean feeling and leave a lasting positive legacy for Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province and the Republic of Korea,” Lindberg said. 

The Swede did admit, however, that there remains "a lot of work to be done".

"Our time together leaves me confident that Mr. Lee understands what needs to be done in this critical operational phase," she added.