Lee Hee-beom, left, revealed how two new hotels will be built ©ITG

Two new hotels are being built close to the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic and Paralympic Alpine skiing venue at Jeongseon in order to ease accommodation shortages, it was revealed here today. 

A lack of rooms was identified as a major concern during this month's Chef de Mission inspection visit to the South Korean resort.

The venue is considered too far away for people to be accommodated in either the Alpensia Resort Games hub or the city of Gangneung, where ice sports are due to be held.

Both of the new hotels are currently being constructed and should be completed by October.

One is being built by the Hyundai Development Corporation and is expected to boast 204 rooms.

A second 107-room hotel is being developed by construction company Songdam.

Mobile housing is also being considered as another alternative.

Jeongseon, one of the only venues for next year's Games which is relatively remote, successfully held a men's Alpine skiing test event last year.

An International Ski Federation Women's World Cup event is due to be held there with downhill and super-G events on March 4 and 5. 

The Jeongseon Alpine resort is due to host a women's test event early next month ©Getty Images
The Jeongseon Alpine resort is due to host a women's test event early next month ©Getty Images

Pyeongchang 2018 President Lee Hee-beom claimed organisers are working hard to rectify problems identified last year, which included a narrow approach and a lack of restaurants and shops around the venue.

"We have very few hotels, and also it is hard to find quality restaurants," he admitted at a press conference during the Asian Winter Games here.

"From now on, we will focus on operational issues including building restaurants and transportation."

Lee gave an upbeat assessment on venue progress during a busy winter season of test events.

"The quality of snow and ice was praised," he said.

"But we do have issues to develop - sounding systems, parking systems.

"All the issues raised at test events will be collected and we will have the perfect Olympic Games."

He insisted they are working with the International Olympic Committee (IOC) to better promote the Games before vowing to soon finalise a complete list of legacy plans.

Protesters are still flocking onto the streets across South Korea as political instability continues ©Getty Images
Protesters are still flocking onto the streets across South Korea as political instability continues ©Getty Images

Lee, who replaced Cho Yang-ho as Pyeongchang 2018 President last May, also played down concerns surrounding the role of sponsors Samsung despite the political scandal in South Korea. 

Samsung vice-chairman Jay Y.Lee was arrested earlier this month and is still being questioned as part of the cronyism investigation that has also caused the impeachment of South Korean President Park Geun-hye.

"Samsung has already committed to sponsoring the IOC and the Pyeongchang Organising Committee," Lee said.

"Even with the recent scandal, I don't think [sponsorship] will be affected.

"We already have the agreements, and Samsung has already donated and has agreed to sponsor [the Games]."