[2025 Audit] Yoo Seungmin: "Ammunition Outflow... Responsibility to Be Clarified Through Audit"

"We Will Conduct a Joint Investigation with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism"

Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, stated that he "acknowledges responsibility at the committee level" regarding the illegal outflow of live ammunition for shooting sports. This marks a reversal from the committee's previous stance last month, when Assemblyman Jin Jongoh of the People Power Party first raised the issue and the committee had announced it bore "no responsibility."

On October 27, during the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, President Yoo said, "We will conduct a thorough investigation through a joint audit with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism," and added, "We will clarify where the responsibility lies."

Previously, in a press conference in September, Assemblyman Jin Jongoh had disclosed the issue of illegal ammunition outflow and criticized the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee for "evading supervisory responsibility."

During the audit on the same day, Assemblyman Jin also criticized the Korea Shooting Federation for failing to report to higher organizations such as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, even though it had been investigated by the police in June regarding the illegal outflow of ammunition. He pointed out, "If the case was serious enough for the police to launch an investigation, at the very least a report should have been made," and added, "A significant flaw in the federation's management system has been revealed."

Additional allegations were raised during the audit about misconduct by the Secretary-General of the Shooting Federation. Assemblyman Jin stated, "There are suspicions that the Secretary-General played golf during official work hours at the National Sports Festival," and insisted, "A thorough audit of the federation's overall operations is necessary."

Assemblyman Jin also mentioned previous allegations of misconduct during Yoo's tenure as President of the Korea Table Tennis Association. Issues raised included suspicions of illegal distribution of table tennis equipment worth approximately 100 million won, which had been sponsored by Hana Bank, questions regarding the fairness of the selection process for table tennis halls participating in the promotion and relegation league, and whether family members accompanied him on overseas league inspection trips.

President Yoo responded, "I will sincerely cooperate with all audits to restore public trust."