After Nearly Two Years of Investigation, Former President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) Lee Kee-heung Cleared of Improper Hiring and Embezzlement Allegations

[Financial News] Police decided not to refer the case to prosecutors, citing insufficient evidence, against former KSOC President Lee Kee-heung, who had faced various allegations of misconduct, including improper hiring, embezzlement and breach of trust. The decision came about one year and 10 months after police began their investigation.
According to police on the 21st, the Anti-Corruption Investigation Unit of the Metropolitan Investigation Division of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency decided on the 1st not to refer the case to prosecutors, citing insufficient evidence, over allegations that former President Lee had obstructed business, accepted third-party bribes, committed occupational breach of trust and embezzlement, engaged in coercion, and violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act.
The allegation that he violated the Improper Solicitation and Graft Act by using donated goods for personal purposes was also not referred because prosecution was not possible.
Commissioner Ko Beom-seok of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said at a regular press briefing, "After comprehensively reviewing materials secured through searches and seizures involving the KSOC athlete village and related parties, as well as statements from those involved, we decided not to refer the case because we could not find evidence sufficient to prove the allegations." He added, "We did not find evidence that would establish a crime."
The investigation began after the Government Joint Public Service Inspection Team under the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced the results of an inspection into misconduct at the KSOC in November 2024 and asked police to investigate former President Lee and others.
At the time, the inspection team determined that Lee had improperly intervened in the hiring of his child's college friend for a position overseeing training at the Jincheon National Training Center in North Chungcheong Province. He was suspected of influencing the final hiring decision by having the qualification requirements eased during the process and replacing a department head who opposed it.
There were also allegations that a sports organization president close to Lee was made to cover the cost of purchasing about 80 million won worth of items, including health foods and game uniforms, for the national team. Allegations that KSOC sponsorship and marketing merchandise had been given to acquaintances or used for personal purposes were also investigated.
Based on the inspection findings and other information, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) notified Lee that he was suspended from his duties as KSOC president. In December of the same year, police launched a full-scale compulsory investigation, raiding eight locations, including the KSOC office in Songpa District, Seoul, and the Jincheon National Training Center in North Chungcheong Province.
Amid the allegations, Lee ran in the 42nd KSOC presidential election in January last year, seeking a third term, but lost to incumbent President Ryu Seung-min and failed to win re-election.

[email protected] Choi Seung-han Reporter