One Strike and You're Out... Wrestling Coach Who Hit Student with Shovel Has Qualification Revoked

First Application of the Ministry’s "One-Strike-Out" Policy
Permanent Expulsion from the Sports Sector... Highest Level of Disciplinary Action

In June, an incident occurred at a middle school in Sangju, North Gyeongsang Province, where a wrestling team coach struck a student on the head with a shovel, citing the student's lack of commitment during training. After becoming aware of the incident, the North Gyeongsang Wrestling Association convened a Sports Fairness Committee on August 27, about two months later, and imposed the highest level of disciplinary action-expulsion-on the coach responsible for the violence. Following an investigation by the Sports Ethics Center, the coach was also subject to disciplinary action by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. On October 23, the Ministry announced that, based on the revised National Sports Promotion Act effective August 1, it had decided to revoke the coach’s sports instructor qualification.

Seok Jinyoung, Director of Sports Promotion at the Ministry, stated, "With this disciplinary action, the coach can no longer serve as an instructor in the sports community," and explained, "While expulsion by the North Gyeongsang Wrestling Association means removal from the wrestling community, the Ministry's revocation of qualification strips the coach of national credentials, effectively banning them from the entire sports sector."

This measure marks the first instance in which the Ministry’s "one-strike-out" policy-permanently banning individuals from the sports field for even a single act of violence-announced in August, has been actually enforced.

The Ministry clarified that the decision to revoke the qualification was finalized after an investigation by the Sports Ethics Center and deliberation and resolution by the Sports Instructor Qualification Management Committee. The committee, after thoroughly reviewing the gravity of the case, resolved to revoke the qualification, concluding that "violence cannot be justified under any pretext of instruction."

The Ministry has recently demonstrated a strong commitment to eradicating violence in the sports sector. It identified the fundamental causes of such violence as a "culture that condones violence for the sake of performance" and a "closed culture where victims remain silent even after experiencing violence." To address these deep-rooted issues, the Ministry announced in August the implementation of a zero-tolerance, one-strike-out policy. Kim Daehyun, the Second Vice Minister, also visited the Sports Ethics Center immediately after taking office and reiterated the Ministry’s determination to eliminate corruption in sports and to lead the protection of human rights.

Additionally, through the Sports Ethics Center, the Ministry operated a "Special Reporting Period for Sports Violence" throughout September. As a result, 198 cases of human rights violations and corruption were reported, with 105 of them involving human rights violations-a figure about 2.7 times higher than the monthly average of 38.7 cases. This suggests that many previously concealed cases of violence and human rights abuses within the sports sector have come to light.

The Ministry announced that, for reported cases, it would work closely with the police to ensure prompt investigations and remedies for victims, led by the Sports Ethics Center. Furthermore, it plans to impose immediate disciplinary actions and qualification revocations against coaches and others found to have committed acts of violence, depending on the outcome of the investigations.

Moreover, the Ministry emphasized that it would actively consider all possible administrative measures-including requests for reconsideration under the National Sports Promotion Act and restrictions on financial support for noncompliant organizations-against sports organizations that are negligent or passive in disciplining or managing the qualifications of coaches who commit acts of violence.

The Ministry stated that, under the principle of "zero tolerance and strict punishment," it will thoroughly supervise and manage the implementation of effective measures in the field to ensure that not a single case of violence is tolerated.

Following the revocation of the middle school wrestling coach’s qualification, Minister Choi Hwiyeong plans to visit the Sports Ethics Center to encourage staff working on violence prevention and to inspect systems for victim protection and recurrence prevention.

The Ministry stated, "We will continue to implement effective measures to ensure that all athletes can train in a safe and respectful environment."