'Shooting Emperor' Rep. Jin Jong-oh of the People's Power Party sent a letter to the IOC opposing the reappointment of Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korean Olympic Committee (IOC).
On the 27th, Jin sent a letter to IOC President Thomas Bach, IOC Executive Vice Chairman Nicole Hoberts, Juan Antonio Samaranch, Nawal El Moutawakel, Gerardo Wertain, and EOC Chairman Spiroz Capralos, saying, "I would like to convey this issue to the IOC as the actions of IOC Member Lee Ki-heung (President of Korea Sports Council) seriously undermine the spirit of the Olympic Games and fairness of sports."
Representative Jin said "I belong to the National Assembly of the Republic of Korea as a member of the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee. Prior to that, he has been a member of the South Korean national shooting team since 2004, winning gold medals in Beijing in 2008, London in 2012, and Rio de Janeiro in 2016. He also served as the non-executive director of the Korea Sports Promotion Foundation, the executive director of the Korea Sports Council, and the chairman of the organizing committee for the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics. I'm proud that I've been working hard for the development of sports in Korea," he introduced himself. Rep. Jin went on to say, `The reason I am writing this letter is to inform you of the serious issues surrounding the current KSOC Chairman Lee Ki-heung,' adding, `Congressman Lee Ki-heung's recent moves are not only inconsistent with KSOC's core values such as fairness, innovation and shared growth, but also violate the Olympic spirit," he wrote. Lawmaker Jin then listed the results of the recent prosecution and allegations in the National Assembly, listing that Chairman Lee is being investigated on charges of hiring corruption, bribery, embezzlement and breach of trust. Chairman Lee is under investigation for violating the anti-graft law and the third-party bribery law, including hiring children of acquaintances by arbitrarily changing the hiring criteria during his tenure, using abusive language and abusive language against employees who raised objections in the process, using sponsored items worth $50,000 for private purposes during the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics, and receiving 60 million won worth of bribes in exchange for the appointment of positions related to the 2024 Paris Olympics" he insisted. Rep. Jin then said, `Chairman Lee's eight-year term is stained with corruption, corruption, and abuse of position. The legal and moral grounds have been fully established that he is unfit for the presidency." IOC member Lee Ki-heung is currently seeking a third term as president of the Korean Olympic Committee and a second term as an IOC member. The presidential position of the Korean Sports Council is determined through elections, but the IOC membership is determined by the recommendation of the IOC General Assembly by the IOC Executive Committee. Therefore, it is very important for the IOC Executive Committee to find out the facts about Chairman Lee,' he explained again why he sent the letter.
Rep. Jin then said "Chairman Lee lost the trust of the general public and the sports community due to continued inappropriate behavior. If he is reappointed as a member of the IOC, he will send a negative signal to the international sports community and damage the IOC's good reputation." "Fairness and honesty are the foundation of the Olympic spirit and the IOC. This is why the IOC has maintained a cool and clear stance on corruption and corruption. I hope that the IOC will apply such clear and fair standards to the case of Chairman Lee who has lost his credibility and qualification as an IOC member." As the IOC has done so far, I earnestly ask the IOC to accurately grasp Chairman Lee's case and protect the fairness and integrity of the international sports community" he concluded.
