Lee Suk-jin, Former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family, Appointed as the First Chairman of the Sports Ethics Center (Comprehensive)

Launch of Dedicated Corporation for Athlete Human Rights Protection and Eradication of Sports Corruption on the 5th
Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Appoints Chairman, Non-Executive Directors, and Auditors

Lee Suk-jin, Chairperson of the Sports Ethics Center (right), is attending the 'Sports Ethics Center Launch Ceremony' held on the 5th at the Salvation Army Building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, receiving an appointment certificate from Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heung-soon] Former Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family Lee Suk-jin will serve as the inaugural chairperson of the Sports Ethics Center, a dedicated organization for protecting the human rights of athletes and eradicating sports corruption.

On the 5th, Park Yang-woo, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, presented the appointment letter to the new chairperson Lee at the Sports Ethics Center office in Chungjeongno, Seoul, and handed over the center's permit.

Chairperson Lee is an expert in gender equality, human rights, and administration, having served as Vice Minister of Gender Equality and Family from June 2017 to February 2019, and as CEO of the Seoul Foundation of Women and Family, accumulating diverse experiences in both public and private sectors. She is expected to lead the Sports Ethics Center for the next three years.

Minister Park said, "I thank Chairperson Lee Suk-jin for accepting the important role as the inaugural chairperson of the Sports Ethics Center," and added, "I expect her to lead the center well to protect human rights in the sports community and ensure fairness."

Chairperson Lee pledged, "I will ensure that the Sports Ethics Center establishes itself as an institution faithful to independence, expertise, and reliability, protecting the human rights of sportspeople and contributing to sports for all citizens and for our daily lives."

The Sports Ethics Center was initiated following a sports-related sexual violence incident in January last year, with the aim of fundamentally improving human rights violations and corruption. Subsequently, following the amendment of the National Sports Promotion Act in February, the establishment task force prepared for six months, and the center was registered as a legal entity on this day.

Lee Suk-jin, Chairperson of the Sports Ethics Center, is delivering a greeting at the 'Sports Ethics Center Launch Ceremony' held on the 5th at the Salvation Army Building in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jin-hyung aymsdream@

On the same day, Minister Park appointed non-standing directors of the Sports Ethics Center: Attorney Choi Eun-soon of the D.K. Law Office (member of the Supreme Court Sentencing Commission), Professor Lee Soo-jung of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University (Director of Human Resources Development at Kyonggi University), Professor Ha Myung-ho of Korea University Law School (Administrative Law), Professor Ryu Tae-ho of Korea University Department of Physical Education (member of the Sports Innovation Committee), and Kim Ye-won, head of the Center for Disability Rights Law (member of the Prosecutor's Human Rights Committee). Additionally, Lee Sun-kyung, representative attorney of the Yoorim Law Office (director of the Whistle Foundation), was appointed as a non-standing auditor. The appointed non-standing directors and auditor will participate in the institution's operations through the board of directors for a three-year term.

The Sports Ethics Center integrates the reporting functions of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism’s Sports Corruption Reporting Center, the Korea Sports Council’s Clean Sports Center, and the Korea Paralympic Committee’s Sports Personnel Support Center, investigating human rights violations and corruption in sports independently from the sports community. Furthermore, it provides counseling, legal support, and connections to specialized institutions for victim protection, conducts surveys on human rights violations and sports corruption, and offers preventive education on (sexual) violence. The National Assembly is also discussing establishing a special judicial police (special investigation police) system within the center to grant investigative authority over misconduct.

To ensure smooth future operations, the Sports Ethics Center plans to strengthen communication with the sports community and cooperation with related organizations such as the National Human Rights Commission, the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, and the National Police Agency. In line with the intent of the so-called 'Late Choi Sook-hyun Act' (amendment to the National Sports Promotion Act) passed by the National Assembly on the 4th, efforts will be made to reinforce the center’s functions and expand its budget and personnel. The center’s operating budget for this year is approximately 2.3 billion KRW, starting with 25 staff members responsible for related tasks. Minister Park stated, "We will increase the center’s operating budget next year and continue consultations with financial authorities to enable related work to be carried out regionally as well."

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