[Exclusive] Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education Knew About Fraudulent Winners in 2021 Student Sports Festival but Remained 'Lax'

Due to competition rules, 6th grade elementary players must compete in the middle school division

Two 6th graders sweep awards in elementary gymnastics category

Responsible teacher uses award records to delay transfer

Education office

A scandal has erupted throughout the school sports community as it was revealed that fraudulent athletes participated and manipulated results at the 'Jeonnam Student Comprehensive Sports Competition' organized by the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education. Moreover, the controversy has intensified as the Office of Education, which was supposed to supervise and manage the event, reportedly knew about the issue but delayed taking immediate action.

According to the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education and Yeonggwang Education Support Office on the 4th, the '46th Jeonnam Student Comprehensive Sports Competition' was held in November 2021 at Jeonnam Sports Middle and High School in Muan-gun, Jeonnam. This competition also served as the Jeonnam regional representative selection event in preparation for the 51st National Youth Sports Festival held the following year in 2022.

At the competition, B, a student from A Elementary School in Yeonggwang who competed in the gymnastics elementary division, swept first place in floor exercise, pommel horse, rings, vault, parallel bars, horizontal bar, and the individual all-around. Additionally, C, another student from the same elementary school, won third place in floor exercise, second in pommel horse, second in rings, third in vault, third in parallel bars, second in horizontal bar, and second in the individual all-around.

However, it was confirmed that B and C, who won a total of 14 awards, were fraudulent athletes. The competition operation plan clearly states that "6th-grade elementary students must compete in the middle school division, and 3rd-grade middle school students must compete in the high school division" because the event also serves as the representative selection for the Youth Sports Festival held the following year. Nevertheless, these two athletes competed in the elementary division as is.

Furthermore, the supervising teacher, Mr. D, submitted a deferment request to postpone his transfer to another school by citing these award records, and he continued working at the same school for over a year. This caused dissatisfaction among other teachers who wished to work at that school.

The bigger controversy is that the Jeonnam Provincial Office of Education and Yeonggwang Education Support Office knew about the fraudulent athlete participation months ago but took no action.

After this newspaper began its investigation, the Office of Education and the Education Support Office hurriedly started their own investigations and are reportedly considering revoking the award records.

Park Jaehyun, Director of the Sports and Health Division at the Office of Education, and Park Hyungsang, the Sports Supervisor, stated, "It is true that fraudulent athletes participated," and "We have known since this year that certificates awarded due to such fraudulent participation were attached to the transfer deferment request of the teacher in question." They added, "We will take all necessary measures after further verification of the facts."

Ko Gwangjin, Superintendent of Yeonggwang Education Office, said, "Regardless, it was wrong. We tried to handle it as smoothly as possible, which caused the matter to be delayed for over half a year. Please watch over the situation."

Moreover, these teachers and others are suspected of financial irregularities related to the 2022 National Youth Sports Festival participation. They reportedly reported the school’s support funds and Jeonnam Sports Association funds to the Jeonnam Sports Council under the name of the Jeonnam Gymnastics Association.

A representative of the Jeonnam Sports Council stated, "Since this concerns the Student Sports Festival and Youth Sports Festival, we will cooperate with the Office of Education to verify the facts and take strict action according to the articles of association and regulations."