Choi Cheol-won, CEO, Effectively Loses Lawsuit Confirming Position as Ice Hockey Association President

Court Rejects Claim Lawsuit... "CEO Choi to Bear Litigation Costs"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo Byung-don] The court has rejected the lawsuit filed by Choi Cheol-won, CEO of Might & Main, who was denied approval as president of the Korea Ice Hockey Association amid the 'Matt-gab assault' controversy, seeking confirmation of his presidential status.

The Civil Division 13 of the Seoul Eastern District Court (Presiding Judge Seong Chang-ho) on the 10th did not accept Choi's request for confirmation of his status as president of the Korea Ice Hockey Association filed against the Korea Sports Council.

Earlier, Choi was overwhelmingly elected as the next president of the Korea Ice Hockey Association in December 2020, but due to the 'Matt-gab assault' controversy, critical public opinion intensified, and he was denied approval by the Korea Sports Council.

On this day, the court ruled that the Korea Sports Council's refusal to approve Choi was lawful. The court ordered Choi to bear the litigation costs.

However, since the defendant, the Korea Ice Hockey Association, did not appear for the defense, the court issued a 'judgment by confession,' considering that the defendant admitted the plaintiff's claims.

Choi was involved in the 'Matt-gab assault' controversy after it was revealed that in 2010, he called and assaulted a transportation worker in his 50s who was holding a one-person protest in front of the SK headquarters and handed over 20 million won as 'Matt-gab' (a term referring to a payoff). This incident was also the subject of the movie "Veteran."

For this charge, Choi was sentenced in 2011 to 1 year and 6 months in prison with a 3-year probation.

In response to the Korea Sports Council's decision, Choi filed an injunction and a main lawsuit with the court, seeking confirmation of his presidential status.

The court dismissed Choi's injunction request in May last year and sided with the Korea Sports Council in the main lawsuit on this day.

Recently, the Korea Sports Council demanded that the Korea Ice Hockey Association hold a new presidential election to normalize organizational operations, citing that the association has been without a president for over a year.

At the final hearing in December last year, Choi claimed, "85% of the media reports related to the 'Matt-gab assault' are exaggerations and fabrications," and "95% of the movie 'Veteran' is also exaggeration and fiction."

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