The presidential office says that Pyeongchang and the rest of the nation did their best to win the right to host the 2014 Winter Olympics, saying that it has no regrets regardless of the result.

Presidential spokesman Chun Ho-sun thanked the residents of Gangwon Province, ethnic Koreans in Guatemala and the South Korean people for their enthusiastic support during the bid process.

Meanwhile, right after Russia's Sochi was announced as the host of the 2014 Winter Games, President Roh Moo-hyun comforted and expressed gratitude in person to Guatemala residents and some five-hundred South Korean boosters who had flown to the Central American country to support the nation's bid.

The boosters and residents raised a large South Korean national flag, the Taegeukgi, and cheered for South Korea.

The president also commended the organizing committee staff for their hard work, shaking hands with each member.