The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) has imposed a 5-year suspension on professional volleyball player Jo Jae-seong (28, OK Financial Group), who was sentenced to a suspended prison term for attempting to evade military service by falsely claiming epilepsy.
On the 15th, KOVO made this decision at the disciplinary committee meeting regarding Jo Jae-seong's violation of the Military Service Act, held at the federation's conference room in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul.
KOVO stated, "Considering the public sentiment demanding strict punishment, we judged that expulsion would be appropriate; however, we also took into account that Jo Jae-seong confessed to the crime from the beginning and actively cooperated with the trial."
According to Article 10 (Grounds for Disciplinary Action) of the federation's disciplinary regulations, Jo Jae-seong is completely banned from participating in player activities until June 14, 2028.
Jo Jae-seong initially received a first-class active duty rating in his first military physical examination in October 2014. In May 2018, after undergoing another physical examination due to a dermatological condition (psoriasis), he was rated as third-class active duty. Having postponed enlistment multiple times, Jo attempted to evade military service by paying 50 million won to a military service broker named Gu and receiving a "false epilepsy scenario."
Subsequently, after reporting seizures in the emergency room, he was rated seventh-class, subject to re-examination, in April 2021, and was later classified as fourth-class supplementary service in February of last year.
Jo Jae-seong was indicted in December last year for involvement in the military service corruption case and was sentenced to one year in prison with a two-year suspended sentence in the first trial on the 24th of last month.
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