Offender Apologizes at Funeral Hall... Choi Sook-hyun's Father Says, "This Is Not Your Place"

Kim Mo Player Recently Admitted to Assault
Late Choi Sook-hyun's Father: "I Conveyed the Intention to Visit but Was Rejected... It's Not the Time Yet"

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

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Bong-ju] The family of athlete Kim, who is accused of assaulting the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun, a member of the Gyeongju City Triathlon Team in Gyeongsangbuk-do, reportedly tried to visit the bereaved family to apologize, but Choi’s father refused the apology, saying, "This is not a place for you to come."

Kim is one of the four individuals identified as perpetrators of the assault on Choi. Others include Triathlon Team Director Kim, team doctor (exercise prescriber) Ahn, and team captain Jang.

On the 6th, Kim appeared before the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee for an emergency inquiry. When Rep. Lee Yong of the United Future Party asked if he intended to apologize, Kim stated, "Since I did not verbally or physically abuse anyone, I have nothing to apologize for and no such intention. I feel no remorse, only regret," drawing public attention.

The late Choi Sook-hyun's last KakaoTalk message. The photo is unrelated to specific expressions in the article. [Image source=Yonhap News]

However, on the 8th, in an interview with a media outlet, he admitted to the assault and also acknowledged the assaults committed by Director Kim and Captain Jang. Kim said, "I admit to assaulting the late Choi Sook-hyun."

Shortly after Kim admitted to the assault, his parents reportedly expressed through a third party their wish to visit and apologize to Choi’s bereaved family. On the 9th, Choi’s father, Choi Young-hee, said in an interview with JoongAng Ilbo, "After the reports came out, Kim’s father conveyed through someone else that he wanted to meet and apologize, but I refused, saying it was not the right time yet."

Choi added, "At the funeral, none of the others accused as perpetrators came, but Kim alone came, knelt down, and apologized. At that moment, I told Kim, 'This is not a place for you to come. If you sincerely cooperate with the prosecution’s investigation and come back later, I will consider whether to forgive you or not.'"

Previously, Kim explained his continuous denial of the charges by saying, "The atmosphere was such that I absolutely could not speak out. I lacked the courage. I thought it was unthinkable to expose a senior’s wrongdoing. Seeing the junior athletes testify even at the National Assembly made me feel ashamed and gave me the courage. I am sorry to the late Choi Sook-hyun," he said in a media interview.