Ruling and opposition parties have pledged their all-out support for the Gwangju Universiade.
 
During a meeting of his party's lawmakers on Friday, ruling Saenuri Floor Leader Yoo Seung-min thanked the organizers of the event and the citizens of the southwestern city of Gwangju for their efforts for the safe hosting of the event amid the outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS). 
 
During the meeting, the ruling party's policy chief pledged support for the successful hosting of the biennial event. He also expressed his hope for Gwangju to become an international city through the Universiade. 
 
Rep. Jun Byung-hun of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy's (NPAD) Supreme Council also expressed gratitude for the citizens of the host city for working together on the preparations. Promising the NPAD's support for the games, Jun expressed hope that the Universiade would mark a turning point for South Korea to declare an end to the MERS outbreak.