As a follow-up to our report earlier this month regarding the Korean Swimming Federation (KSF) headquarters having been raided by South Korean prosecutors, the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office has confirmed the arrest of an executive-level official.
On February 17th, citing concerns about corruption and misappropriation of funds within the KSF organization, prosecutors confiscated computer hard drives and sports industry-related project documents from the headquarters. The KSF was suspected of ‘forging documents and siphoning off expenses.’
Now, an official only identified by surname Jeong has been arrested for allegedly having received bribes in turn for the selection of specific Korean athletes for major international competitions from 2010 to 2013. Although no individual competitions were mentioned, the 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, 2012 London Olympics and 2013 FINA World Championships all took place during that time span.
Instead of certain team members having been properly selected via Olympic-qualifying trials, an investigation by the Korean Sports Ministry determined that the KSF chose divers and synchronized swimmers based on recommendations from each of the events’ committees. National team coaches were also allegedly selected in this way as well.
According to the prosecution, ‘the ministry was aware of the federation’s skipping the trials at the time, but did not take punitive action.’
“People in the swimming field say the selection of the national swimming team up to 2013 was solely the decision of only a few officials holding power within the federation,” a prosecutor said.
Another executive-level official by the surname of Park is also being investigated, says the prosecution. ‘Park is suspected of having paid Jeong regularly in return for selecting swimmers at his club for the national team.’
“Sources said Jeong openly promoted Park’s club, telling parents that they needed to send their children to the club in order for them to be selected for the national team,” the prosecutor said.
The original article from Korea Times can be accessed here.