Late Response by Gyeongju City Hall Team in the Late Athlete Choi Sook-hyun Case... Controversy Over Delayed Disciplinary Action

Korea Triathlon Federation Sports Fairness Committee Disciplinary Procedure for Offender on 6th
Victim Reported Incident in February... Investigation Manual Not Followed

23-year-old triathlon athlete Choi Sook-hyun, who played as a national representative and youth representative, is seen winning a gold medal at the 2013 National Marine Sports Festival. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] The Korea Triathlon Federation announced on the 6th that it will discipline the team coach and senior players identified as perpetrators in the case of the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun. However, it has come to light that the federation was already aware of the abuse and harsh treatment suffered by Choi as early as February, sparking controversy.

In particular, it has been confirmed that the federation covered up the incident by relying solely on the Gyeongju City Hall Triathlon Team coach's statement that "there is no problem." The federation admitted that it did not properly investigate the case, trusting only the coach's words.

On the 6th at 4 p.m., the federation held the Sports Fairness Committee, which functions as a disciplinary committee, and announced that it would decide the level of discipline for three of the four accused individuals, excluding the team doctor. The federation can permanently expel those responsible for Choi's death under the Sports Fairness Committee regulations.

According to the Sports Human Rights Protection Handling Manual, when a report of violence or sexual violence occurs in the sports field, the exact circumstances and overview must be identified. Additionally, an investigative agency must be designated, and a thorough investigation must be conducted either directly or by transferring the case.

However, it has been confirmed that the federation did not follow these procedures.

The Future United Party's "Task Force for Truth Investigation of the Late Choi Sook-hyun Case and Protection of Athletes' Human Rights" held a briefing on the morning of the 3rd at the National Assembly Members' Office Building regarding Choi's case.

TF Chairman and United Party lawmaker Lee Yang-su stated in the briefing, "It has been newly confirmed that the federation knew since February that the case was problematic and would be handed over to the police."

This means that the federation was aware of the abuse about two months before Choi submitted complaints and petitions to the Korea Sports Council and the federation on April 8, yet did not ask Choi about the abuse or conduct an investigation.

According to the TF, the federation only called the Gyeongju City Hall team coach to verify the facts. The coach reportedly told the federation that there was no such (abuse and harsh treatment) incident.

Lawmaker Lee criticized, "They trusted only the coach's words and took no further action. If appropriate and proactive measures had been taken at that time, the tragedy could have been prevented."

Moreover, according to the TF, the federation initially concealed the fact that it had known about the case in February to lessen its responsibility.

On the 2nd, the coach of the triathlon team at Gyeongju City Hall, Gyeongsangbuk-do, appeared at the city sports council office where the personnel committee was held. Photo by Yonhap News

Lawmaker Lee explained, "At the beginning of the briefing, they denied knowing about the case in February, but when lawmaker Lee Yong persistently questioned them, already having some understanding of the facts, they finally admitted to knowing since February."

This has led to a flood of criticism regarding the response process of the federation and related organizations. A netizen who said they learned about Choi's case through news articles commented, "I thought bad practices were deeply rooted in the sports world. They only trusted the coach's words and had no intention to properly investigate. They probably thought it would be disadvantageous to them if the issue escalated." The netizen added, "If they had investigated the related parties from the moment they recognized the abuse, Choi's unjust death could have been prevented. This is a tragic incident caused by the complacent response of the federation and related organizations."

Another netizen said, "I think the federation and the coach are the same. Does the federation even have the right to discipline anyone?" and added, "I'm scared there might be more victims besides Choi. The government must step in and thoroughly investigate the federation and related organizations."

Earlier, on the morning of the 26th of last month, Choi was found dead in a lodging in Busan after leaving a text message to her family saying, "Please reveal the guilt of those people."

The bereaved family claimed that Choi had been subjected to continuous harsh treatment and bullying by the coach, team doctor, and some senior players at her former team, Gyeongju City Hall.

A recording released by YTN contains clear evidence of harsh treatment inflicted on Choi by players and officials from her former team, Gyeongju City Hall.

According to the recording, they verbally abused Choi with remarks such as, "You did two training sessions and didn't even eat a meal, yet you gained weight," and "You did wrong, so starve for three days." They also told her to "bite your teeth" before physically assaulting her.

Meanwhile, the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee will launch an investigation into the Choi case on the 6th at the committee level. Democratic Party members of the committee stated at a press conference, "This is a clear example showing that local governments and the sports world lack awareness of the problem, and that powerful institutions like the prosecution and police treat a person's life carelessly." They added, "We will pursue the truth to the end, even if it means holding hearings."

Additional victims who suffered harsh treatment from the Gyeongju City Hall Triathlon Team are also scheduled to hold a press conference on the same day. These additional victims are known to have witnessed Choi being abused or have themselves been subjected to physical and verbal abuse.

※ If you are experiencing difficult feelings such as depression and need expert help, you can receive 24-hour counseling at the Suicide Prevention Hotline 1393, Lifeline 1588-9191, or Youth Hotline 1388.