Police Forward Four Suspects Who Abused Athlete Choi Sook-hyun for Prosecution in May: "Additional Victims Confirmed"

Player Choi, Complaint Filed in March
Police Conclude Two-Month Investigation Applying Charges of Coercion, Fraud, and Assault
Gyeongbuk Provincial Police's Metropolitan Investigation Unit Deployed... Additional Victims Under Investigation

The late athlete Choi Sook-hyun's final message
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Gwan-ju] It has been confirmed that the police have forwarded the case to the prosecution with a recommendation to indict all four perpetrators accused by the late Choi Sook-hyun, a triathlon athlete, who suffered from harsh abuse by her team coaches and seniors and ultimately took her own life. The police are expanding the investigation to determine if there are additional victims.

According to the Gyeongbuk Provincial Police Agency on the 3rd, Choi filed a complaint with the Daegu District Prosecutors' Office Gyeongju Branch on March 5. The prosecution transferred the case to the Gyeongju Police Station for investigation on March 9, and ten days later, on the 19th, the police secured testimony from Choi regarding abuse and assault.

Subsequently, from mid-April to early May, the police sequentially investigated the suspects, conducted supplementary investigations including witness interviews, and on May 29, applied charges such as coercion, fraud, and assault, forwarding the case to the prosecution with a recommendation for indictment.

A police official stated, "Despite difficulties in the investigation due to the COVID-19 situation, including suspects undergoing self-quarantine during overseas training camps, we actively conducted the investigation according to law and principles. Although the suspects completely denied the crimes, we proved the criminal facts through related witness statements and account analysis."

The Gyeongbuk Police Agency has currently organized two teams from the Metropolitan Investigation Unit as a dedicated investigation team to verify if there are additional victims. The police plan to conduct a strict investigation if any illegal acts are discovered. A police official expressed condolences, saying, "We pray for the repose of Choi’s soul and offer our deepest condolences to her bereaved family."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.