The South Korean businessman who led Pyeongchang's successful bid for the Winter Olympics is set to return as head of the organizing committee for the 2018 Games.

Cho Yang-ho, chairman of Korean conglomerate Hanjin Group, says in a statement released by the company that he has accepted the position made vacant by the surprise resignation last week of Kim Jin-sun.

The new chairman needs to be officially approved at a meeting of Pyeongchang's local organizing committee.

Cho is quoted as saying by South Korean news agency Yonhap: "Now that I've agreed to take on the job as chief organizer, I will dedicate myself to ensure a successful Winter Olympics in PyeongChang."

Cho, who heads Korean Air, was head of the bid committee when Pyeongchang was awarded the games by the IOC in 2011.

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