Consecutive Wins... Has the 'Father of Ice Skating' Started His Comeback?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyung-min] Former Korea National Sport University (KNSU) Department of Physical Education professor Jeon Myeong-gyu, once celebrated as the 'Godfather of Ice Skating' but later disgraced by factional conflicts and corruption allegations, is regaining his honor through a series of recent courtroom victories, drawing significant attention.

The court rulings could serve as a foothold for a counterattack against those who ousted him. Consequently, the sports community is closely monitoring Professor Jeon's future moves.

According to the legal sector on the 15th, the Seoul Administrative Court, Administrative Division 12 (Chief Judge Jeon Yong-seok) partially ruled in favor of Jeon in his lawsuit against KNSU, seeking the cancellation of his dismissal and disciplinary surcharge. The court annulled the dismissal imposed by KNSU's disciplinary committee in August 2019 and also canceled the portion exceeding 5.94 million KRW of the disciplinary surcharge totaling 10,185,000 KRW.

Professor Jeon has also won various previous lawsuits. In August 2020, Senior Judge Lee Dae-kyung of the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 1004 ruled partially in favor of Jeon in his 20 million KRW damages claim against the state, ordering the state to pay him 5 million KRW in consolation damages.

The senior judge stated that KNSU, a national university, caused Professor Jeon mental distress by holding an emergency faculty meeting in January 2019 to isolate him from victim students amid allegations that he tried to conceal violence in the ice skating community. The judge also pointed out that the faculty meeting did not meet the quorum requirements, emphasizing that the disciplinary measures were hastily conducted.

In October 2021, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Appeals Division 6-3 (Chief Judge Choi Jeong-in, Judges Kim Hyun-seok and Dang Woo-jeung) upheld the first-instance ruling in a damages lawsuit where the state demanded Professor Jeon reimburse 30.26 million KRW for unnecessarily purchased skates, siding with Professor Jeon.

Considering the possibilities of appeals and further litigation, Professor Jeon is expected to face more trials. Given the current trend, most outcomes are likely to favor him. The legal community believes that the Ministry of Education and KNSU rushed through various procedures (comprehensive audits, faculty meetings) from February to August 2019 leading up to his dismissal, resulting in numerous procedural flaws revealed in court. At that time, related agencies were eager to expel Professor Jeon, labeled as the 'ice skating deep-rooted problem,' and to quell controversies, holding meetings and making decisions without properly fulfilling requirements.

It is reported that Professor Jeon has been rigorously preparing lawsuits for the past two years. In consultation with his legal team, he has filed multiple civil, criminal, and administrative lawsuits, winning them one by one recently.

Professor Jeon Myeong-gyu (right) is visiting the venue of the 46th President's Cup National Men's and Women's Speed Skating Competition held at Taereung International Skating Rink on January 5 last year, taking a commemorative photo with Ahn Hyun-soo.

Professor Jeon led South Korea's short track speed skating team for 15 years starting from the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics. He nurtured many star athletes and won numerous medals at the Olympics and other events, earning the nickname 'Godfather of Ice Skating.' However, factional conflicts in the ice skating community, highlighted by Ahn Hyun-soo's naturalization to Russia, implicated Professor Jeon as a central figure, tarnishing his reputation. In 2018, controversy arose when it was reported that he had pushed the late athlete Noh Jin-kyu into rigorous training that led to his illness. Subsequently, allegations of sexual assault and bullying within the women's national team coaching staff surfaced, forcing Professor Jeon to resign from several positions he held.

Professor Jeon was known to have many adversaries due to his coaching style, which involved selecting highly skilled athletes for intensive training to achieve good results on the world stage. This approach is said to have significantly contributed to his dismissal. Ice skating insiders who harbored grievances against him united to raise various allegations. The truth is expected to be revealed in court soon. Professor Jeon's return to the ice skating community will likely be determined by these rulings.

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