"Not a Crime but Severe Punishment?"… Nam Hyunhee Opposes 7-Year Suspension of Coaching License

Seoul Sports Council Confirms '7-Year Suspension of Coach License'
Victim's Side Calls It "Regrettable Outcome"
Nam Hyunhee's Side "Will Contest Through Lawsuit"

Former national fencing representative Nam Hyun-hee has received a '7-year suspension of coaching qualifications' from the Seoul Sports Council, finalizing the disciplinary action at the council level. Nam's side stated, "It is unusual to impose such a severe penalty when no crime was committed," and announced plans to file a lawsuit.

Nam Hyun-hee, a former national fencing representative accused of being an accomplice in Jeon Cheong-jo's fraud case, is appearing at the Songpa Police Station in Seoul on November 8th last year. Photo by Jang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the 4th, Channel A reported that the Seoul Sports Council held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting on the 22nd of last month and decided on disciplinary action against Nam. In June, the Seoul Fencing Association issued the highest level of discipline, 'expulsion,' but Nam appealed and requested a retrial. The higher authority, the Seoul Sports Council, ultimately decided on a 7-year suspension of Nam's coaching qualifications.

The disciplinary process within the Sports Council follows a two-tier system (Seoul Fencing Association - Seoul Sports Council), and this decision holds final authority. With the announcement of this penalty, Nam's coaching qualifications will not be recognized from August 22, this year, until August 21, 2031.

The Seoul Sports Council determined that Nam's case falls under "causing social controversy that damages the dignity of sportspeople" and "causing significant social or economic harm to individuals or groups," thereby confirming the disciplinary action.

Nam was subject to disciplinary demands for failing to fulfill her duties as a coach by not reporting a sexual violence crime against a minor student at the fencing academy she operates, and for participating in defamation by not restraining her business partner and former lover, Jeon Cheong-jo, from making inappropriate remarks to the victims.

Regarding the Sports Council's decision, the victims' parents expressed regret in an interview with Channel A, questioning whether a 7-year suspension of qualifications is an effective sanction.

Nam's side told Channel A, "It was confirmed by the police's non-prosecution decision that Nam was deceived and exploited by Jeon Cheong-jo, and since no crime was committed, it is unusual to impose such a severe penalty," adding, "Since this decision was not made through a lawsuit, we believe an objective judgment was not reached, and we plan to challenge it through legal proceedings soon."

Earlier, around July last year, a coach identified as A, working at Nam's academy in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, was accused by victims of sexually assaulting two minor students over several months. After the allegations became public within the academy a few days following the complaint, A reportedly took an extreme step.

As a result, with the police investigation unable to proceed, the Sports Ethics Center launched an inquiry in October last year at the request of the victims. They concluded that Nam was aware of the related circumstances but did not report them, leading to demands for disciplinary action. According to the National Sports Promotion Act and the Enforcement Rules of the Promotion Act issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, coaches affiliated with sports organizations under the Korea Sports Council, as well as those operating private academies, must immediately report any suspected human rights violations or corruption in the sports community to the Sports Ethics Center or investigative authorities.