If Human Rights Violations or Corruption Are Confirmed in the Sports Sector, Names Will Be Disclosed

Operation of the Sports Instructor Qualification Committee for Deliberation and Resolution of Leader Qualification Revocation
Expansion of Human Rights Awareness Training Participants, Guarantee of Freedom to Choose Residential Training

The late athlete Choi Sook-hyun's father appeared as a witness and spoke at the hearing on "Harsh Treatment of Triathlon Athletes and Human Rights Violations in the Sports Sector" held at the National Assembly on the 22nd. To avoid direct confrontation between the victim and the perpetrator during this hearing, a partition was installed. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

From now on, the names of individuals found guilty of human rights violations or corruption in the sports sector will be disclosed. On the 9th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it will operate the Sports Instructor Qualification Management Committee, which deliberates and decides on the disclosure of names and the cancellation of instructor qualifications, in accordance with the National Sports Promotion Act revised last December. Sports instructors will be required to complete education to raise awareness of human rights, and athletes in workplace sports teams will be guaranteed the freedom to choose whether to participate in training camps.

The disclosed sports persons’ personal information, details of misconduct, and confirmed guilty verdicts will be published in the official gazette and on the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s website. The Sports Instructor Qualification Management Committee, which deliberates and decides on these matters in advance, consists of nine members including experts in sports and law as well as public officials. The Ministry stated, "This will raise awareness of human rights violations among sports instructors and sports organization leaders and serve as an opportunity to improve human rights and ethical consciousness in the sports community."

The education to raise human rights awareness will be expanded from athletes, national representatives, instructors, referees, and sports organization executives to include school and sports organization instructors. They must complete at least six hours of mandatory education every two years at institutions designated by the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. However, the education can be postponed for reasons such as fulfilling military service obligations. Instructors who fail to complete the education may face suspension of their qualifications for up to one year. Schools or sports organizations that treat instructors unfavorably due to this education will be fined 1 million won.

The late Choi Sook-hyun's mother appeared on the 22nd at the National Assembly's hearing on "Harsh Treatment of Triathlon Athletes and Human Rights Violations in the Sports Sector." She shed tears as testimonies about the harsh treatment of Choi were presented. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

The human rights of athletes in workplace sports teams will be protected through the establishment of dormitory management standards. Heads of institutions or organizations to which athletes belong are required to prepare operational regulations including related matters and report compliance status to local government heads. Additionally, to integrate and manage human rights violations and corruption in the sports sector, the scope of registration for the integrated reporting management system has been expanded from athletes, instructors, referees, and executives to include the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, local sports councils, and the Korean Paralympic Committee. The Ministry explained, "Disciplinary histories can be checked through the disciplinary information system when hiring instructors."

The revised law also recognizes local sports councils as corporations conducting projects and activities for community sports promotion and allows local governments to support operating expenses. It is expected that transparency in organizational management will be secured by enabling local government heads who approved the establishment to exercise supervision and inspection over local sports councils.