Police Raid Korea Sports Council and Athletes' Village... "Allegations of Ilgiheung's Irregular Hiring"

The police investigating allegations of misconduct against Lee Ki-heung, president of the Korea Sports Council, conducted a search and seizure at the Korea Sports Council headquarters and Jincheon National Training Center on the 18th.

On the 12th, when the review of the agenda for the approval of Lee Ki-hong, chairman of the Korea Sports Fairness Committee, to serve a third term was held privately, staff members were moving at the Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The day before, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism abruptly notified Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, who is under investigation for misconduct allegations, of his suspension from duty. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

The Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that from around 9 a.m. on that day, they were conducting search and seizure operations at eight locations, including the Korea Sports Council headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and the National Training Center for Athletes in Jincheon, Chungbuk. It is reported that the police dispatched about 10 investigators to secure materials related to allegations of employee recruitment corruption and bribery involving third parties linked to President Lee.

This search and seizure followed an investigation request from the Office for Government Policy Coordination on the 11th, and President Lee is reportedly facing charges including obstruction of business and bribery involving third parties.

Earlier, the Joint Public Service Inspection Team of the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced the results of an investigation into misconduct at the Sports Council last month, and requested an investigation into President Lee and others for reasons including fraudulent employee recruitment, demands for sponsorship items (including money and goods), and private use of sponsored goods.

During the investigation, it was confirmed that President Lee had improperly hired A, a university friend of his daughter, as a training management staff member at the National Training Center for Athletes located in Jincheon, Chungbuk.