Prime Minister Jeong Sye-gyun: "Zero Tolerance for Human Rights Violations in Sports, Investigation and Punishment"

Presiding over the National Agenda Inspection and Coordination Meeting
"Urgent need to introduce Sports Special Investigation Unit to ensure investigation independence and human rights protection"
"Early execution of market stabilization funds and personnel allocation to ease burden on waste disposal companies"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] "After the tragic incident involving the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun, the government has formed a special investigation team to conduct a fact-finding investigation. Upon receiving the interim results, I could not suppress my overwhelming sorrow."

Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun made these remarks on the 30th at the Government Complex Sejong during the National Affairs Review and Coordination Meeting, before discussing measures to promote human rights protection in the sports sector.

He stated, "According to the investigation so far, organizations such as the Korea Sports Council neglected victim protection by relying solely on perpetrators' statements without conducting proper face-to-face investigations," emphasizing, "There was a comprehensive failure in the reporting process, athlete protection systems, and a passive attitude among those responsible."

He added, "This is a reflection of the chronic problems stemming from the sports community’s tendency to protect their own and a closed organizational culture," and noted, "The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as the competent authority, cannot be exempt from supervisory responsibility."

He then explained three policy directions. First, he said, "The entire process from reporting, investigation, punishment to victim protection must be managed transparently and systematically," adding, "We must establish an integrated reporting system centered on the soon-to-be-launched Sports Ethics Center, strengthen victim protection, and expedite the introduction of a special sports investigative unit to ensure independence of investigations and human rights protection."

He also requested consideration of thorough investigations under a zero-tolerance principle and suspension of subsidy support for sports organizations where human rights violations have occurred. He stressed, "Human rights violations in the sports community will no longer be tolerated," and urged, "Along with thorough investigations and punishments under the zero-tolerance principle, please consider publicizing the list of corrupt leaders and suspending subsidies to sports organizations involved in human rights violations."

He mentioned that the sports culture prioritizing only performance must also change. He said, "The perception that coercive training and corporal punishment are necessary for medals must be eliminated starting from school sports," and requested, "Please reform the competition-oriented National Sports Festival and the reward system that depends on competition results."

Additionally, regarding measures to stabilize the recycling market, he announced that market stabilization funds and personnel deployment would be promptly executed to reduce the burden on waste disposal companies. This consideration comes amid increasing waste due to single-use products and non-face-to-face consumption, and worsening profitability of collection and sorting companies caused by falling prices of recycled raw materials.

Prime Minister Chung said, "First, measures are needed to reduce the burden on waste disposal companies," adding, "We will promptly execute market stabilization funds and personnel deployment, and establish a system where local governments can directly collect waste in some areas with unstable collection."

He continued, "It is necessary to increase accountability across all stages of production, discharge, and recycling, and to consider measures to reduce single-use products and packaging materials," adding, "Measures that could impose burdens on companies and the public should be approached with a sense of balance and caution."

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