Why are you demonizing me? Lee Ki-heung declared to run for the third term as chairman, with 100/100 of the heated debate
Dec 23, 2024
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At 2:30 p.m. on the 23rd, Chairman Lee held a press conference at Athens Hall on the 4th floor of the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, to formalize his bid for a third term. With the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism suspending Chairman Lee's duties after allegations of misconduct, Chairman Lee will complete the changes in sports in Korea with athletesHe took to the podium under the slogan '. "Originally, I was going to finish with a term in office. But now the Korean Sports Council is facing a challenge. I thought it was irresponsible to ignore this,' he said, explaining the background of his candidacy. "The Ministry of Culture conducted an audit, held a hearing at the National Assembly, conducted a parliamentary audit, investigated by the National Investigation Office, asked the prosecution and police to investigate, the Board of Audit and Inspection, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism until yesterday." All power organizations in Korea have launched an investigation into the sports association. It would be the first time such a thing has happened since the founding of the country. "It is irresponsible to just go in this situation. I have come to think that I must organize it." "For a full day, I met with previous presidents, city and provincial sports association executives, and leaders to gather opinions. Personally, I thought this was too much. If you step back here, you're admitting everything. It is inevitable. He drove me to the corner" he insisted.
He then claimed his innocence on a series of allegations of misconduct, including the prosecution and police's investigation into the achievements of his eight-year tenure and the audit of the Board of Audit and Inspection and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, embezzlement, breach of trust, fraudulent hiring, and third-party bribery. "'What did he do wrong to demonize me like this?' I can't help but think like this. "There's something that's still not coming out clearly until now. It doesn't come out just because it's sold like spring water. I'm telling you because I'm upset and frustrated." He then reiterated the establishment of dedicated governance integrating sports work from 15 ministries that have been claimed for the past four years, saying that "Korea's sports change lies in the establishment of the National Sports Commission." "When this reaches a certain irreversible stage, I will hand it over to a good and capable chairman even during my term and return to my daily life to organize the rest of my life. I tried to organize my life by reading the scriptures at my residence in Samnam-myeon, Inje-gun, Gangwon-do, but I can't go now."
In a Q&A session after announcing his candidacy, Chairman Lee was relentless. Questions were raised about the dissuasion of the high-ranking government officials' candidacy, recommendation of president of large corporations, and rumors of conciliation, which were revealed in recent interviews. Chairman Lee suggested working in other fields because it was noisy, saying, "Is it necessary to be a third term after the Paris Olympics?" If I can't do it here, I'll just finish it, and he said 'Business owner, chaebol class' As the chairman of the Korea Sports Council, he opposed chaebol. 'After integration, the sports association cannot be managed unless it is dedicated to working. The chairman of the conglomerate said, 'It may be difficult in the political circle.'" I back-proposed two people, including former National Assembly Speaker Kang Chang-hee, but there was no answer." Asked to confirm the identity of high-ranking government officials, Chairman Lee `is the nation's highest-ranking agency and high-ranking official. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said it is not "but we can't reveal it now." Asked whether the official's remarks could be viewed as an official stance of the government, Chairman Lee cited three channels. I also heard that there was a 3 team. One team called me a team of `George' and one team shook the inside of the sports association, and one team was preparing for the election. Asked about the appeal regarding the suspension of duties by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, "The suspension of duties is wrong. The chairman of the Korea Sports Council is elected, not appointed by the minister. The appointee is a sportsman. In order to suspend the duties, there must be a resolution at the general meeting of representatives, a legal investigation, and an arrest trial process. There is a presumption of innocence principle." Pointing out that the Korean Sports Council is struggling, "We need to overcome the difficulties and go to a better stage. To fall down here is to give up." Asked about the possibility of prosecution or conviction after the election, Chairman Lee said, `Something I don't know can't happen. You can deceive others, but you can't deceive yourself," he repeatedly maintained his innocence. Asked about the third challenge, Chairman Lee said, `I don't know. The athletes will judge" "If I get elected and stand here again, I'll do my best. I tell you that I have no self-interest."
The election for the 42nd president of the Korea Sports Council will be held at Olympic Park Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul on January 14 next year after receiving candidate registration for two days from the 24th to the 25th. Along with Chairman Lee, eight people, including Kang Shin-wook, Dankook University professor emeritus, Kang Tae-sun, chairman of the Seoul Sports Council, and Yoo Seung Min, former IOC member and president of the Korea Table Tennis Association (in alphabetical order), expressed their intention to run. Amid some notable unification movements, attention is being paid to how many candidates will run. Campaigns can be held for 20 days from the 26th, the day after the candidate registration deadline, to the election day.
sky4us@sportschosun.com
