Jeollabuk Special Autonomous Province has strongly refuted and responded to the recent suspicions raised in some media outlets regarding the disqualification of the bid for hosting the 2036 Jeonju Summer Olympics.

Previously, the Pressian reported on the 28th, with the headline *"Yoon Jun-byung 'Issues with compact arrangement of venues and over 40% burden of total project cost'... Emergency for hosting the 2036 Jeonju Summer Olympics?"*, expressing concerns about Jeollabuk's Olympic hosting plans. In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Jeollabuk Province stated that this was not true.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "Currently, Jeollabuk is in discussions with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in accordance with the International Sports Events Support Act and regulations for attracting international events. We have never expressed a negative stance on hosting the Olympics," and explained, "We are in the stage of discussing the event plans with the IOC in a 'Continuous Dialogue' phase, and the disqualification judgment is not true."

Jeollabuk Province also emphasized through an official statement, "Jeonju being selected as the final candidate city for domestic application by the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee was the result of a fair and transparent process," and stated, "In cooperation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, we are enhancing the hosting plans according to the new procedures of the IOC."

Regarding the financial burden controversy, they mentioned, "We are seeking improvements in the system to relax the 40% local cost burden principle according to current regulations, and are promoting an economically feasible Olympics by utilizing existing facilities without building new stadiums." They also clarified, "The promotion that Jeonju was presented as if it were a confirmed hosting city is not true, and it was based on the official status as a domestic candidate city for application."

Governor Kim Kwan-young of Jeollabuk Province stated, "Hosting the Summer Olympics is a national task that will change the future of Jeollabuk and symbolize balanced development," and said, "We will transparently pursue the hosting with a feasible and responsible strategy to ensure its realization."

Jeollabuk Province plans to establish a cross-government Olympic hosting committee with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee in the future to broaden national consensus and enhance international competitiveness.