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 The 24-year-old, who became South Korea's first Olympic figure
skating gold medalist at the Vancouver Games, retired from the sport
earlier this year after winning silver in Sochi.
Kim was one of the key figures in Pyeongchang's successful bid for
the 2018 Games, making an impressive presentation to the
International Olympic Committee session in South Africa in 2011.
"The memories that I made with the bid committee are still fresh in
my mind," she said in a statement on Tuesday.
"With these memories in stow I am excited to bring the same passion
and commitment with me to this new role with the organizing
committee."
The figure skater was South Korea's most popular sporting figure
until her retirement and single-handedly made the sport popular back
home.
Cho Yang-ho, who took over as president of Pyeongchang's organizing
committee (POCOG) in July, said Kim would make a valuable
contribution to ensuring South Korea's first Winter Olympics was a
success.
"As a Games ambassador for the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, we expect
her to take the lead in promoting the Games to the world," he said
in a statement.
Cho, who led Pyeongchang's successful bid for the Olympics, replaced
Kim Jin-sun after he abruptly resigned in the middle of a review by
the Board of Audit and Inspection.
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Preparations for the Games in four years' time are beginning to pick
up pace with ground broken on a new speed skating rink last week,
meaning construction work on all venues was underway on schedule.
The 2018 Games are being held in 13 competition venues, six of which
needed to be built.
The IOC gave preparations the thumbs up earlier this year after a
coordination commission inspected the Olympic Villages and several
venues. They were also happy with the progress of a new highway and
the high-speed train connections with Seoul.
(Editing by Greg Stutchbury)
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