The agreement was penned following a meeting of key officials from each of the three organisations, with Pyeongchang 2018 secretary general Yeo Hyung-koo joined by IIAC President and chief executive Chung Il-young and Sung Il-hwan, President and chief exeutive of the KAC.

The two companies reiterated their support for the 2018 Winter Olympic Games, the first to ever be held in South Korea, at the signing ceremony.

The airport authorities agreed to provide dedicated facilities for Games-related clients and promised to enhance service amenities to deal with the influx of athletes, fans and officials who are expected to travel to South Korea for the Games in two years’ time.

They also promised to encourage participation in the Pyeongchang 2018 volunteer programme and to share flight operation data in the lead-up to and during the event itself.

“I deeply appreciate the strong support of the two airport authorities,” Yeo said. 

“Airports are more than just port of entry.

“It determines our visitors’ first impression of Korea, and airports will be the beginning and end of anyone’s journey to the Pyeongchang 2018 Games.

“I look forward to the authorities’ proactive support in providing travellers with a swift, safe and convenient experience at the airport which will be essential to the success of Korea’s first Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.”

IIAC manages and operates Incheon International Airport, one of the main gateways into the country located just outside of capital city Seoul.

KAC manages a total of 14 airports in Korea including Gimpo, Yangyang, Gimhae and Jeju international airports.

Yangyang is the closest airport to the Pyeongchang 2018 venues, situated around half-an-hour’s drive away from Gangneung, where ice sports such as speed skating, curling and ice hockey will be staged during the Games.

The MoU with the IIAC and the KAC comes after a similar agreement was signed with the Seoul Metropolitan Government earlier this week.