Korean Sports Association's Union Sent a Letter to IOC"Chairman Lee Ki-heung's Case, Please Monitor Objectively"
Nov 20, 2024
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The union sent a letter to James McCleod, director of the IOC's National Olympic Committee (NOC), on the 13th, when Chairman Lee Ki-heung returned from Lausanne, Switzerland. Chairman Lee mentioned the IOC's concerns about government intervention in the interview back home at the time, saving his words on the third term challenge. Opening his meeting with IOC Secretary-General Christopher de Kepfer, Chairman Lee said, `There is a great deal of concern about the IOC's current domestic situation,' adding that the IOC has been calling since September about the controversial (Korean Sport & Olympic Committee president) election and (NOC's) autonomy. 'Since I'm a member of the IOC, I shouldn't have any more problems. I said, 'Please be quiet, it will work out on its own.' I said, but this time I went to (Lozan) and I was very worried. " "Now, I feel like I can't do it alone, but through a meeting at the IOC, I wonder if I will have a meeting with the government."," he added.
With attention focused on the IOC's actions after Lee's remarks, the union sent a letter to the IOC, listing Lee's alleged illegal hiring of employees, demand for sponsorship of goods (receiving money and other items), and embezzlement and breach of trust requested by the government's joint public service inspection team in the Cabinet Office. "We are the only labor union representing 220 members of the Korea Sports Council (KSOC)," he said. "We regret to inform you that Chairman Lee Ki-heung, a member of the IOC, is currently under investigation after the inspection team of the Office for Government Policy Coordination.' The union is accused of inappropriately exercising influence on Chairman Lee's hiring of his daughter's friend to a position within the sports association. He is also accused of bribery and embezzlement, and eight sports association executives and employees are being investigated in connection with these three issues," he wrote. The union will look at a variety of news on this issue, including foreign media, and as a trade union, we ask the IOC to monitor the situation objectively and thoroughly" he concluded.
sky4us@sportschosun.com
