[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] Jin Jong-oh (42, Seoul City Hall), a South Korean national shooting team member, apologized for referring to Javad Foroughi (41, Iran), the gold medalist in the men's 10m air pistol at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, as a "terrorist."
On the 31st, Jin Jong-oh stated through social media (SNS), "I apologize for causing controversy with inappropriate remarks during an interview with the media upon returning to Incheon Airport," adding, "I deeply reflect on the fact that I was not thoughtful enough in verifying facts, having only heard what was reported in the media, and that I made controversial remarks without considering my fellow athlete."
He continued, "I have also suffered from incorrect or distorted articles and malicious comments in the past, so I deeply empathize with the wounds that Foroughi must be experiencing," and added, "Above all, I respect Foroughi, the Tokyo Olympic champion, and sincerely congratulated him on site. I will be more careful with my words and actions in the future."
Jin Jong-oh, who competed against Foroughi in the men's 10m air pistol final, sparked controversy on the 28th at Incheon Airport after returning to Korea by saying, "It seems the Tokyo Olympic organizing committee did not prepare well," and "Isn't it absurd that a terrorist took first place?"
According to local Iranian broadcasts, Foroughi served as a medic in the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps in 2013 and was deployed for a period to the Syrian civil war as part of the medical unit. In 2019, then U.S. President Donald Trump designated the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, calling it "a key instrument of the Iranian government directing and carrying out international terrorist activities." However, this decision to designate a foreign regular military organization as a terrorist group sparked various controversies.
The Iranian Embassy in Korea also issued a statement the previous day, urging to stop criticizing Foroughi, stating, "The Revolutionary Guard Corps is an official military pillar of Iran, protecting the homeland and people, and has played an important role in establishing security in the Middle East."
Meanwhile, Foroughi set an Olympic record and won the gold medal in the men's 10m air pistol event at the Tokyo Olympics on the 24th.
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