Korean Government Clarifies Role in KOC Reforms

(ATR) A spokesman for the ministry of sport in South Korea says the government is not behind proposed changes to the Korean Olympic Committee bylaws.

Around the Rings reported Feb 5 that the proposals could give the government control over the NOC that could be in conflict with the Olympic Charter. KOC officials are said to be concerned that the situation could lead to complications with the IOC, especially with Korea hosting the next edition of the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.

Hong Pil Kim, director of the Sports Policy Division of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, says the ATR article contains "misinformation" and he provides additional details on some key points.

"First of all, the revision of the bylaws of the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC), the National Olympic Committee in South Korea, has not been led by the Government," Kim writes in the four-page letter to ATR.

He says the changes to the bylaws are the result of the planned merger of the Korea Council of Sports for All and the Korean Olympic Committee. He says the merger is agreed to by both organizations.

"The main player in the merger is not the Korean Government but a preparatory committee, a private organization staffed with members, some of whom were recommended by the KOC president. There is no government official among the preparatory committee members. The merger is being implemented not on the initiative of the Korean Government but because the KOC had expressed a desire for it. The preparatory committee, which as I said has no members from the government, is a legal entity under Korean law and has full authority to unite the two organizations. The committee has convened 15 meetings so far," says Kim.

However, ATR understands that the government exercised approval for all the seats on the preparatory committee, except for the three named by KOC President Jung Haeng Kim.

The ministry official indicates that ATR incorrectly reported that Vice Ministerof Culture, Sports and Tourism Chong Kim asked the KOC president to step down. He says the election for a new president is set for October, not September as reported. KOC President Kim has not been asked to resign and is free to stand for election, says the letter from the ministry.

The letter does offer explanation for the role of the government in approving the KOC budget and other financial matters such as marketing.

"The Korean Government has been providing approximately US$200 million each year for the budget to cover KOC operation expenses and others matters. The amount provided for the 2016 budget totaled US$225.5 million, and this accounts for 95-97 percent of the KOC’s total finances. In addition, KOC assets were not obtained by the efforts of the KOC but through the budget provided by the Korean Government.

"It may be the universal practice, not only in Korea, that the budget financed by taxpayers’ money has to be approved by the government.

"Also, it is not true that all marketing programs must be approved by the Ministry in advance. On the other hand, it is necessary to get Ministry approval if the KOC plans to conduct profit-making projects using public tax funds," says the letter from the ministry official.

The letter from Hong Pil Kim does not address the issue of whether the bylaws need to be reviewed by the IOC before taking effect. Last week Minister Chong Kim reportedly brushed aside that concern by claiming that the IOC has not approved the existing bylaws of the KOC submitted in 2009.

The changes are supposed to go into effect March 27.

The KOC has not yet responded to a request for comment. Most offices in Korea are closed until Feb 11 due to the Lunar New Year holiday.

Written by Ed Hula.

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