Thirteen key figures who contributed to the country’s first ever Winter Olympics were received the national Order of Merit during a special rally in PyeongChang, Gangwon Province, on Tuesday.

Cho Yang-ho, the head of PyeongChang Bid Committee, and Korean Olympic Committee President Park Yong-sung received the first class of Order of Civil Merit of Mugunghwa.

Korean figure star Kim Yu-na, who made the final presentation for PyeongChang in Durban, received a Moran medal, the second class Order of Civil Merit.

The PyeongChang Organizing Committee staged a special rally for a successful 2018 Winter Games in Alpensia Resort with more than 4,000 people participating.

Speaking at the event, President Lee Myung-bak called on the nation to commit its “full and unflagging support,” to the organization of the 2018 Olympics.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)