South Korean IOC Member Steps Aside

(ATR) Kun Hee Lee's family says he will not seek IOC reelection during his "continued illness".

Guardar

(ATR) Former Samsung chair Kun Hee Lee has asked the IOC to not consider him for reelection as a member.

Lee has suffered health issues since 2014 after being hospitalized for a heart attack and a coma. Since then Lee has not made public appearances in Korea. Samsung released a statement in 2016 denying that Lee had died in response to media speculation.

Since Lee’s health issues arose Samsung has experienced turbulent times in South Korea. Lee’s son Jay is currently on trial for his role in a growing influence peddling scandal that brought down the Geun Hye Park administration. Indicted in February, Jay Lee faces bribery charges for offering up to $38 million to Park and her confidant Soon Sil Choi.

Despite the legal troubles, Samsung has posted record earnings this year.

Lee was first elected to the IOC in 1996 in Atlanta. He was suspended in 2008 as a result of his conviction in South Korea over charges of tax evasion and embezzlement. He was later pardoned and returned as Samsung chairman. The IOC Ethics Commission reprimanded Lee, but allowed him to return as a full voting member ahead of the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

IOC members now serve eight year terms that can be renewed by vote of the IOC Session until reaching retirement age. Lee is due for renewal at the IOC Session in Lima in September. Aged 75, Lee could have served until age 80, but after missing three consecutive IOC Sessions, his tenure was already at risk.

Samsung joined the IOC TOP Program in 1998, two years after Lee joined the IOC. The company’s sponsorship lasts until 2020 in the wireless communications category.

Lee was also instrumental in bringing the 2018 Winter Olympics to PyeongChang, South Korea. It was the third time bidding for the Games.

"Our thoughts are with his family at this difficult time during his continued illness," said the IOC statement.

South Korea will have one member after the IOC Session, Athlete Commission member Seung Min Ryu.

Written by Aaron Bauer

25 Years at #1: Your best source of news about the Olympics is AroundTheRings.com, for subscribers only.

Guardar

Últimas Noticias

Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

Utah Olympic Legacy Foundation chief of sport development Luke Bodensteiner says there is a “real urgency to make this happen in 2030”. He discusses the mission of the non-profit organization, the legacy from the 2002 Winter Games and future ambitions.
Utah’s Olympic venues an integral part of the equation as Salt Lake City seeks a Winter Games encore

IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Thomas Bach, in an open letter on Friday, also thanked stakeholders for their “unprecedented” efforts to make Tokyo 2020 a success despite the pandemic.
IOC president tells Olympic Movement “we will again have safe and secure Olympic Games” in Beijing

Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

The IOC says issues concerning governance, finance, and refereeing and judging must be sorted out to its satisfaction. AIBA says it’s confident that will happen and the federation will be reinstated.
Boxing’s place in the Olympics remains in peril as IOC still unhappy with the state of AIBA’s reform efforts

IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

Thomas Bach says the Afghanistan NOC remains under IOC recognition, noting that the current leadership was democratically elected in 2019. But he says the IOC will be monitoring what happens in the future. The story had been revealed on August 31 in an article by Miguel Hernandez in Around the Rings
IOC president details Olympic community efforts to get Afghans out of danger after Taliban return to power

North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022

Playbooks for Beijing 2022 will ”most likely” be released in October, according to IOC President Thomas Bach.
North Korea suspended by IOC for failing to participate in Tokyo though its athletes could still take part in Beijing 2022