"No Apology, No Regret" Late Choi Sook-hyun's Family "Feels Inhuman" Outraged

The coach and senior athletes of the Gyeongju City Triathlon Team attended an emergency briefing on the death of the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun held at the National Assembly on the 6th, responding to questions from lawmakers. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Yeon-ju] Controversy has arisen as the coach of Gyeongju City Hall and two senior athletes, who were accused of assaulting the late triathlon athlete Choi Sook-hyun, who took her own life after suffering from harsh treatment within her team, strongly denied the allegations and stated they had no reason to apologize.

On the 6th, during an emergency inquiry held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Rep. Lee Yong of the United Future Party asked Coach Kim Gyu-bong of Gyeongju City Hall and two other athletes who appeared as witnesses, "Have you ever assaulted or verbally abused anyone?" Coach Kim denied the allegations, saying, "I have never done such things," but admitted, "As a coach, I acknowledge my fault in not knowing that a player was being assaulted."

When Rep. Lee asked, "Do you only acknowledge responsibility for management and supervision?" Coach Kim briefly replied, "Yes."

Rep. Lee asked the same question to the fellow athletes accused as perpetrators. To player Jang, who was the team captain, Rep. Lee asked, "Do you have any intention to apologize?" Jang replied, "My heart aches for the time spent with Choi, but I will sincerely cooperate with the police investigation."

Rep. Lee also asked player Kim, "Have you ever verbally abused Choi Sook-hyun or any other players?" Kim strongly denied the allegations, saying, "There is no such fact," and added, "Since I have not assaulted anyone, I have nothing to apologize for, only feelings of sorrow."

Lee Yong, a member of the United Future Party, attended an urgent inquiry on the death of the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun held at the National Assembly on the 6th, questioning the coach of Gyeongju City Hall and senior players who were identified as perpetrators. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

Ultimately, Rep. Lee expressed anger, criticizing, "Your junior, your student has died, so why are you so confident?" To this, the coach responded, "I am not confident. I was the first to hear about Choi's death and was so distressed that I rushed there immediately. I am not confident."

It is reported that fellow athletes who witnessed their statements initially denied the allegations but later shed tears.

The bereaved family expressed their frustration in interviews with multiple media outlets, saying, "(Those accused) do not seem human."

Earlier that day, Choi's teammates held a press conference at the National Assembly's Communication Hall, stating, "Choi and all victims, including ourselves, identify the team captain as the primary person to be punished," and revealed, "The Gyeongju City Hall triathlon team was a kingdom ruled solely by the coach and certain players, where habitual violence and verbal abuse were normalized in a closed and secretive environment."

They claimed, "The team captain, the most senior member, always alienated and ostracized players, driving them into a hellish pit through assault and verbal abuse," and added, "Since we shared the same dormitory space, we were exposed to the captain's violence and verbal abuse 24 hours a day."