Seoul Sports Council to Director Nam Hyun-hee 'Suspension of leadership for 7 years' Final decision... The reason is "Social water"

Sep 04, 2024

The second trial disciplinary resolution of the Seoul Sports Council.

The Seoul Sports Council has decided to suspend Nam Hyun-hee from leadership for 7 years.

In March, the Sports Ethics Center decided to demand disciplinary action on the grounds that Nam did not report that the leader of his fencing academy did not fulfill his duty of protection even though he was aware of the sexual violence committed by a female student in high school, and that his partner, Jeon Cheong-jo, did not take measures to restrain him from making inappropriate remarks about the damage at a meeting of parents at the fencing academy.

Seoul Sifencing Association's first trial disciplinary decision

Under the National Sports Promotion Act, sports organizations executives, leaders, referees, athletes, and private academy operators must immediately report to the Sports Ethics Center or investigative agency if they are aware of corruption or suspicions, including human rights violations in the sports community, and are subject to disciplinary action if they fail to fulfill their reporting obligations. In response to the demand for disciplinary action by the Sports Ethics Center, the two-trial disciplinary process was carried out by the competent sports organization.

Coach Nam applied for a retrial on June 18 after the Sports Fair Committee of the Seoul Fencing Association made a decision to 'Examination', and the Seoul Sports Council, a higher-level organization, held a sports fair committee meeting on the 22nd of last month and finally voted for '7 years of suspension of leadership'.

The Seoul Metropolitan Fencing Association and the Seoul Sports Council's Sports Fair Committee regarded the part of social water associated with the case of Jeon Cheong-jo, which turned the world upside down last year, as the main reason for disciplinary action, rather than the violation of the reporting obligation. The seven-year suspension of qualification was decided in Article 31 (2) of the Sports Fair Commission Regulations along with the grounds that it falls under the case of 'in which a social controversy damages the dignity of an athlete' and 'in case of serious social and economic harm caused by an individual or an organization'. From 22 August 2024 to 21 August 2031, leadership activities are not possible.

The victim said on Channel A on the 4th, "Is seven years of suspension a realistic sanction. a disappointing result." On the other hand, Nam's lawyer says the disciplinary action is excessive. "The Fencing Association said the reason was 'when serious social and economic harm was caused', and although it was confirmed through the police's decision not to indict Jeon Cheong-jo that he was deceived and used, it was all the fault of director Nam Hyun-hee." The level of disciplinary action is excessive compared to other much more serious issues. It is unusual for such a heavy punishment to be imposed even though he did not commit a crime." Of course, it is very regrettable that the Jeon Cheong-jo scandal caused a disturbance in the sports community. I regret and reflect endlessly, thinking that this would not have happened if I had been a little more careful. I feel sorry for my fellow sportsmen as well. "Since this decision was not a lawsuit, I believe that an objective and fair judgment was not made. Soon, we will have a thorough dispute through litigation proceedings."

sky4us@sportschosun.com