'Employment Fraud Allegations' Lee Ki-heung, President of Korea Sports Council, Assigned to Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit

Allegations of Fraudulent Hiring, Embezzlement, and Breach of Trust

The police have launched an investigation into Lee Ki-heung, president of the Korea Sports Council, on charges including employee fraudulent hiring, embezzlement, and breach of trust.

On the 12th, when the review of the agenda for the approval of Lee Ki-hong, chairman of the Korea Sports Fairness Committee, to serve a third term was held privately, staff members were moving at the Olympic Hall in Songpa-gu, Seoul. The day before, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism abruptly notified Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, who is under investigation for misconduct allegations, of his suspension from duty. Photo by Jo Yong-jun

On the 13th, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency announced that it had been assigned the embezzlement and breach of trust case involving Lee and eight other officials of the Sports Council. On the 11th, the Government Joint Public Service Inspection Team of the Office for Government Policy Coordination had requested the police to investigate President Lee after conducting a month-long review of misconduct within the Korea Sports Council.

President Lee is suspected of instructing the hiring of A, a university friend of his child, at the national athlete village in Jincheon, Chungbuk, in 2022. According to the inspection team, the position required a national team career and a Level 2 professional sports instructor qualification. However, Lee repeatedly ordered senior officials and relevant personnel at the athlete village to relax these requirements. The head of the hiring department who opposed this was reportedly replaced. Ultimately, through this process, A was hired at the national athlete village.

In addition, Lee is also accused of providing key positions related to the Paris Olympics to close acquaintances in exchange for benefits and privately misappropriating the assets of the Korea Sports Council.

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