"Drinking Was Regretted, Had Dated Junior"…Figure Skater Lee Hae-in Denies Sexual Harassment Allegations

Posted Clarification on Instagram
"Broke up due to Parents' Opposition but Reunited"
"Considered It an Expression of Affection Between Lovers"

Figure skating national team member Lee Hae-in, who was suspended for three years for drinking alcohol and sexually assaulting an underage junior during a training camp, has strongly denied the allegations of sexual assault.

On the 27th, Lee Hae-in posted a lengthy statement on her Instagram. She began by saying, "I am truly sorry. I am at a loss for words on what to say to the many fans who must be disappointed in me."

Female figure skating national team member Lee Hae-in. [Image source=Lee Hae-in Instagram]

She stated, "As a national team member, I should have shown a better example to the junior athletes and devoted myself sincerely to training on behalf of those who could not attend the training camp. However, I made a grave mistake due to a moment of poor judgment. Drinking alcohol was an action I should never have taken, and I am deeply reflecting on it." She added, "Since then, I have regretted every day why I committed such a mistake."

Nevertheless, Lee Hae-in asserted, "The articles claim that I sexually assaulted a minor or committed sexual misconduct, but this is not true." She referred to junior A, the underage junior reported as the victim of sexual assault, as "a boyfriend I dated when I was in high school last year," and explained, "We broke up due to our parents' opposition but met again during this training camp."

She continued, "Perhaps because feelings for each other remained, we started dating again there (at the training camp), but we decided to keep it a secret because we did not want to inform our parents. Even during the investigation by the Skating Federation, I could not say that we were dating." She said, "I thought it was playful behavior or expressions of affection that couples can have. Even though I could not reveal that we were in a relationship, I never imagined it would lead to such misunderstandings."

Furthermore, Lee Hae-in expressed, "I have received excessive expectations and love since I was young, and I am truly sorry for showing such a flawed side. Regardless of any disciplinary action from the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, I will deeply reflect and strive never to make such mistakes again."

Earlier, the Korea Skating Union held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting on the 20th and imposed a three-year suspension on Lee Hae-in for sexually assaulting an underage junior of the opposite sex, among other charges.

Lee Hae-in was referred to the union’s Sports Fairness Committee after it was discovered that she drank alcohol at the lodging during the figure skating national team training camp held in Varese, Italy, from the 15th to the 28th of last month. During the investigation, the union confirmed that sexual acts occurred in addition to drinking. After its internal investigation, the union imposed a three-year suspension on Lee Hae-in, while junior athlete A was reprimanded for violating the intensified training regulations by visiting the opposite-sex athlete’s lodging.

Meanwhile, Lee Hae-in is a leading figure skater in Korea who won the silver medal in the women’s singles at the International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating World Championships in March last year.