Middle School Archer Who Shot Arrow at Junior's Back Faces 'Permanent Expulsion' Discipline... "Expelled from Archery Community"

'Concealment and Cover-up Charges' Coach and Archery Association President Suspended for 1 Year
Sports Fairness Committee: "Extremely Serious Matter... Perpetrating Student's Expulsion from Archery Community Inevitable"
Additional School Violence Evidence Against Perpetrating Student Revealed in Full Investigation

Last month, at a middle school in Yecheon, Gyeongbuk, a bullying incident occurred where a senior member of the archery team shot an arrow at a junior, causing injury. The perpetrator has been given a disciplinary action of 'permanent expulsion.'
/Photo by KBS capture

[Asia Economy Intern Reporter Kim Seohyun] A middle school student who injured a junior member of the archery team by shooting an arrow at him, along with the archery team coach and former Gyeongbuk Archery Association president who attempted to cover up or conceal the incident, have been disciplined.

On the 14th, the Gyeongbuk Sports Council held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting composed of 15 members from the legal sector, sports community, and civic organizations, and announced that the third-year student A, the perpetrator from the school's archery team, was given a 'permanent expulsion' disciplinary decision. Permanent expulsion is the highest level of severe punishment.

Additionally, Coach B of the school's archery team, who pressured the victim's side to settle by offering a settlement payment, and former Gyeongbuk Archery Association president Kim Doyoung, who tried to cover up and hush up the incident, were given a one-year suspension of qualifications.

If the disciplined parties do not request a reconsideration from the Korea Sports Council, this disciplinary action will be finalized. The Sports Fairness Committee stated, "This is an extremely serious matter, and the perpetrator's expulsion from the archery community is inevitable."

Kim Hayoung, president of the Gyeongbuk Sports Council, emphasized, "Violence, sexual harassment, and other corrupt practices traditionally passed down in the sports community will be strictly punished with exemplary measures."

At around 10 a.m. on the 4th of last month, student A shot an arrow at a first-year junior standing about 3 meters away at the archery training ground, causing a back injury. A pulled the bowstring somewhat loosely from a distance of 3 to 4 meters, and the arrow is known to have pierced through the junior's training uniform, grazed the back, and then fallen to the ground.

The victim's side claimed that A, who attended the same elementary school, had been bullying by hitting the victim on the head and ostracizing him for several years.

During the education authorities' investigation, additional school violence by the perpetrator and verbal abuse by Coach B were uncovered, sparking controversy. It was also revealed that there are as many as six victims who have suffered violence and bullying from the perpetrator. At the time of the incident, Coach B pressured the victim's side to settle by offering a settlement payment, and the former archery association president is also reported to have tried to cover up the incident.