All Three Perpetrators of Verbal and Physical Abuse Against Late Athlete Choi Sook-hyun File Appeals Claiming "Disciplinary Measures Are Excessive"

Gyeongju City Hall Triathlon Team Athletes Jang Yoon-jung and Kim Do-hwan, Director Kim Gyu-bong File Reconsideration Request
Sports Council Fair Committee to Decide Within This Month

On the morning of the 6th, at the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee plenary meeting held at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul, the coach and athletes of the Gyeongju City Triathlon team responded to questions. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Suwan] Kim Gyubong, the coach, and two senior male and female athletes who were disciplined by the Korea Triathlon Federation for assault and verbal abuse against the late triathlon athlete Choi Sookhyun have filed for a retrial.

Earlier, on the 6th, the Korea Triathlon Federation held a Sports Fairness Committee meeting and permanently expelled Coach Kim and athlete Jang, while athlete Kim Dohwan was suspended for 10 years. At that time, they strongly denied the allegations of assault and harsh treatment during the committee hearing.

According to the Korea Sports Council on the 14th, athletes Jang and Kim submitted a request for reconsideration via email to the Sports Fairness Committee of the Council that morning. Initially, Coach Kim was not expected to request a retrial, but it was confirmed that he submitted the application just before the deadline.

All three requested the Sports Fairness Committee of the Sports Council on the retrial application deadline day to reconsider the disciplinary actions, claiming that the federation's sanctions were excessive.

The Sports Council plans to hold a Fairness Committee meeting within this month, considering the seriousness of the matter.

Meanwhile, on the 9th, athlete Kim belatedly admitted to the harsh treatment of the late athlete Choi and visited the deceased’s columbarium to apologize. It was also reported that Kim’s mother apologized by phone to Choi’s father, Mr. Choi Younghee.

Additionally, on the 14th, the Gyeongju City Sports Council released a handwritten apology letter from athlete Kim. In the letter, he stated, "The reason I had to deny the facts of assault and verbal abuse by Coach Kim and athlete Jang during the investigation process was because I was inwardly afraid to expose the wrongdoings of the teachers and seniors I had lived with since childhood, and at that time, I lacked the courage."

He further admitted to continuously subjecting the deceased to harsh treatment. Athlete Kim said, "I admit that during the 2017 training camp in New Zealand, I hit the back of Choi’s head because he was blocking the way," and added, "My physical contact was a careless and shameful act, as I did not realize it constituted assault to the other person."

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