Ministry of Culture and Korea Sports Council File Mutual Public Interest Audit Requests... Board of Audit Begins Special Audit of Sports Council

"Will Improve Chronic and Structural Problems in the Sports Sector"

The Board of Audit and Inspection announced on the 27th that it has launched a special audit of the Korea Sports Council. This decision was made to conduct an audit of the overall operations of the Korea Sports Council after conflicts arose between the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the President of the Korea Sports Council, leading to mutual public interest audit requests and escalating controversies in the sports community.

In a press release on the same day, the Board of Audit and Inspection stated, "In this special audit, we plan to examine the actual conditions of coach and athlete selection, support, and protection; structural issues in the operation of the Korea Sports Council and its affiliated sports organizations; any irregularities in budget execution; and the management and supervision by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism."

The Board explained, "Recently, issues regarding transparency and fairness in the selection process of national team coaches and athletes have been continuously raised, and controversies over unfair contracts and timeliness related to athlete training, activity support, injuries, and human rights violations have emerged. Due to ongoing allegations in the National Assembly and media about power monopolization and improper budget execution in the operations of the Korea Sports Council and its affiliated sports organizations, we have decided to conduct this audit."

Additionally, the Board plans to jointly review some of the matters requiring verification and examination from the public interest audit requests filed separately by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Council. These include the Ministry's request in September regarding "improper business practices of the Korea Sports Council" and the Korea Sports Council's request in October concerning "illegal and improper sports business corrections by the Ministry."

The Board of Audit and Inspection has begun collecting materials from the Sports Council and related parties as of today and will accept reports on irregularities or human rights violations experienced by athletes, as well as corruption in the operations of the Sports Council and its affiliated sports organizations, through its website until the 27th of next month.

Reports may include issues such as lack of transparency or improper interference in the coach and athlete selection process, unfair or improper contracts in athlete training and activity support, neglect or inadequate handling of reports on athlete injuries and human rights violations, and misuse or improper execution of subsidies and sponsorship funds by the Korea Sports Council and its affiliated sports organizations.

A Board of Audit and Inspection official stated, "Given the significant social controversy surrounding this matter, we have announced the commencement of the audit. Through this special audit, we aim to improve the chronic and structural problems in the sports community as well as unfair practices."