[2025 Audit] Lawmaker Yang Moonseok Calls for Korea Skating Union to Be Designated as Managed Organization and Controlled by Sports Committee

During the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee audit on the 27th, there were calls for the Korea Skating Union to be designated as an organization under special management. The reasons cited were the union's unfair disciplinary action against certain individuals, as well as ongoing misconduct such as violence by coaches.

Yang Moonseok, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, stated at the audit held in Yeouido, Seoul, "It is impossible to prepare for the 2026 Milano-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics, which is about 100 days away," and added, "The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee should designate the Korea Skating Union as a managed organization and bring it under control."

Yang Moonseok also pointed out that a figure skating coach in Daegu who had committed acts of violence against children he taught in April is still coaching children.

Yang Moonseok demanded, "The perpetrator must be permanently expelled, and the union should also face severe disciplinary action," and insisted, "The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee must conduct a thorough investigation and issue an apology."

Yonhap News Agency

Lawmakers Cho Gyeweon (Democratic Party of Korea), Jin Jongoh (People Power Party), and Son Sol (Progressive Party) criticized the Korea Skating Union for disciplining a specific coach without going through the Fairness Committee.

The Korea Skating Union, in May, imposed suspensions of one month and three months respectively on Head Coach Yoon Jaemyung and Coach A, citing issues with the management of meal expenses amounting to several hundred thousand won during an international competition.

Head Coach Yoon appealed to the Fairness Committee of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, the higher authority, and had his position reinstated. Coach A also regained his coaching qualifications after the court granted an injunction to suspend the disciplinary action. The Korea Skating Union, through its board of directors, allowed Head Coach Yoon to rejoin the national team but did not permit Coach A to return.

Park Sewoo, Executive Director of the Korea Skating Union, who attended the audit in place of President Lee Sugyeong, explained the decision not to reinstate Coach A, stating, "We gathered opinions from the athletes and confirmed there was discord with the coach, so we did not allow his return." He added, "The matter was discussed by the Performance Improvement Committee, and the board of directors determined there was no problem," further stating, "I believe the board of directors takes precedence over the Fairness Committee within the union."

Sewoo Park, Executive Director of the Korea Skating Union, is attending the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee's audit held in Yeouido, Seoul on the 27th, answering questions from lawmakers.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

There was also criticism regarding the confusion surrounding the appointment and dismissal of Director Kim Seontae as the interim head coach of the short track national team. When a vacancy arose among the short track coaches, the union appointed Director Kim Seontae as interim head coach. However, controversy erupted due to Director Kim's disciplinary record from 2019, which led the union to decide on his dismissal, resulting in a standoff as Director Kim refused to accept the decision.

Son Sol pointed out, "Even after the court granted an injunction to suspend the disciplinary action against Coach A, the disciplinary measures remained in place, and issues arose during the process of appointing Director Kim Seontae as interim head coach, ultimately leading to a disgraceful departure from the training center."

Cho Gyeweon, a lawmaker from the Democratic Party of Korea, criticized, "Yoo Seungmin, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee, sent two official letters instructing that Coach A should not be treated unfairly, but the union ignored all of them and appointed Director Kim Seontae as the new head coach through the Performance Improvement Committee."

Lee Sugyeong, President of the Korea Skating Union, did not attend the audit, citing confidential reasons.