The reigning world champion produced one of the most memorable performances of the Games here last night in the short programme of the women's singles by scoring a world record 78.50 points to open up a 4.74-point lead on her chief rival Mao Asada of Japan.

Viewers in South Korea and fans watching large screens in the streets exploded with joy as the marks were announced after the teenager performed brilliantly during a James Bond-themed routine that earned a standing ovation. 

Television channels interrupted programmes to flash the news.

Kim, dubbed 'Queen Yu-Na' in South Korea, broke her own personal best and the world record of 76.28 set at Skate America last November.

Pyeongchang are in an increasingly close battle to host the 2018 Olympics with Munich, whose main PR weapon here has been the 1984 and 1988 Olympic skating champion Katarina Witt, who has been on a major charm offensive here with both the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the media.

If, as expected, Kim completes her victory here at the Pacific Coliseium on Friday it will offer Pyeongchang officials a priceless opportunity to promote their bid and steal a march on their European rivals, who are currently the favourites to be awarded the Games when the IOC chooses the venue at its Session in Durban on July 6, 2011.

The opportunity to counter Witt (pictured) with a young, attractive, popular, English-speaking champion will provide Pyeongchang bid leaders with a real opportunity to push past Munich - and Annecy, who are also bidding - and fulfil their dream of hosting the Olympics at their third attempt.

It will also help stabilise a bid still reeling from the international criticism it has received following the controversial decision by the IOC to reinstate convicted criminal Lee Kun-hee as a member despite him having been involved in the biggest corruption scandal in South Korean history.

It led to him being fined 110 billion won (£58 million) and given a three-year suspended prison sentence after being found guilty in July 2008 of failing to pay $39 million (£24 million) in taxes, following allegations he hid money in accounts held under the names of aides.

Lee was restored by the IOC only after he was given a Presidential pardon by Lee Myung-bak following pressure from supporters who wanted him to lead Pyeongchang's bid amid fears that lack of South Korean influence among the Olympic Movement threatened to undermine it against rivals Annecy and Munich.

Kim would certainly be a more acceptable face of the bid than Lee.

Kim is the figurehead of what is set to become South Korea's most successful Winter Olympic team.

By the end of yesterday, they were sixth in the medals table with five golds, four silver and one bronze, including a surprise victory for Lee Seung-hoon in the 10,000 metres speed skating event.

The gold was the first for an Asian skater in a long-distance speed skating event, and followed Lee's silver medal-winning performance in the 5,000-meter race on February 14.

What made the win all the more of a shock was that Lee is a newcomer to the long-track race.

Having competed in short-track events throughout his career, Lee failed to make the final cut at the short-track South Korean team trials in April of last year.

After making the switch to long track last July, he competed in the 10,000-meter event twice prior to skating here.

Lee said: "It's a miralce."

The results have helped establish South Korea among the elite Winter Olympic nations.

Gangwon Province Governor Kim Jin-sun, the co-chair of the bid for the 2018 Olympics, said: "The sporting competitiveness of a country bidding for the Olympics is a very important factor."

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