Coach Kim Gyubong and Captain Who Abused Late Athlete Choi Sookhyun Receive Prison Sentences in Second Trial

Former Coach Kim Gyubong Sentenced to 7 Years in Second Trial
Late Choi Sookhyun's Father: "A Harsher Punishment Should Have Been Given to Sound the Alarm... It Was Not Done"

On the afternoon of the 9th, the family of the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun and others expressed their stance following the appellate court ruling on former Gyeongju City Triathlon Team coach Kim Kyu-bong. August 9, 2021 / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Na Ye-eun] The former coach and athletes of the Gyeongju City Hall Triathlon team, who were charged with abusive acts against the late athlete Choi Sook-hyun, were sentenced to prison terms in the appellate court, the same as in the first trial.

The Daegu High Court 1-1 Criminal Division (Chief Judge Son Byung-won) sentenced former Gyeongju City Hall Triathlon team coach Kim Gyu-bong (43) to seven years in prison on the 9th. Additionally, team captain Jang Yoon-jung (32), who was a senior to Choi Sook-hyun, was sentenced to four years in prison, and Kim Do-hwan (26) was sentenced to one year and six months in prison with a three-year probation.

The court also ordered former coach Kim to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs and imposed a five-year employment restriction at child-related institutions. Jang was also ordered to complete 40 hours of child abuse treatment programs, and Kim was ordered to attend 40 hours of lectures on preventing recidivism of child abuse.

Photo by Yonhap News

Previously, former coach Kim was tried on charges of habitual special injury, including hitting athletes with a mop handle 18 times from September 2014 to May 2017. Jang was arrested and indicted last August on charges of coercion for forcing victim athletes to eat snacks from August 2015 to July 2019.

In the sentencing hearing held last month, the prosecution requested nine years in prison for former coach Kim and five years for Jang.

On the 9th, the court stated, "Severe punishment is inevitable, but in some cases of violent acts, it appears that the offenses occurred as the disciplinary and guidance process exceeded necessary weight loss and cycle accident prevention measures inherent to triathlon." The court also noted, "Considering that some victims reached settlements and do not wish for punishment."

Immediately after the appellate sentencing, the family of Choi Sook-hyun and the Daegu-Gyeongbuk Women's Organizations Federation held a press conference urging the mayor of Gyeongju to apologize, enact a sports human rights ordinance in Gyeongju, establish relief and protection measures by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for athletes who report violence and abuse in sports, and prepare human rights protection measures for female athletes.

Choi Sook-hyun’s father, Choi Young-hee, said at the press conference, "From the family's perspective, the verdict is very disappointing," adding, "Although it is somewhat fortunate that the ruling is the same as the first trial, it is still a disappointing verdict for the family. A harsher punishment should have been imposed to serve as a warning, but that did not happen."

Meanwhile, sports therapist Ahn Joo-hyun (46), who was also charged with abusive acts against Choi Sook-hyun and others, was sentenced on the 22nd of last month in the appellate court to seven years and six months in prison, a fine of 10 million won, seven years of public disclosure and notification of personal information, and a seven-year employment restriction at child and youth-related institutions.

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