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Sex abuse scandal hits South Korea's elite skating scene | Sex abuse scandal hits South Korea's elite skating scene |
(35 minutes later) | |
The prized elite world of South Korean speed skating has been mired in scandal following a wave of allegations from female skaters who say that they were sexually abused by their coaches and that it was covered up. | |
For a country that is a world leader in speed skating, having won 24 Olympic gold medals, this is a serious development. Other sporting federations say they are also now investigating claims of inappropriate behaviour. | For a country that is a world leader in speed skating, having won 24 Olympic gold medals, this is a serious development. Other sporting federations say they are also now investigating claims of inappropriate behaviour. |
Many see this as South Korea's #MeToo movement finally being taken seriously, even if only through the prism of elite sport. | Many see this as South Korea's #MeToo movement finally being taken seriously, even if only through the prism of elite sport. |
A pressure group making headlines | A pressure group making headlines |
In the latest development, five unnamed female skaters have come forward accusing their coaches of abuse. One skater alleged that a coach forcibly kissed her and then verbally abused her when she rejected his advances. | In the latest development, five unnamed female skaters have come forward accusing their coaches of abuse. One skater alleged that a coach forcibly kissed her and then verbally abused her when she rejected his advances. |
The women, represented by a group called Solidarity for Young Skaters (SYS), made their allegations public in a news conference held at South Korea's parliament on Monday alongside a South Korean lawmaker Sohn Hye-won who has also taken up this cause. | The women, represented by a group called Solidarity for Young Skaters (SYS), made their allegations public in a news conference held at South Korea's parliament on Monday alongside a South Korean lawmaker Sohn Hye-won who has also taken up this cause. |
The group said the women chose to remain anonymous because they fear retaliation from those who support their coaches and the wider skating community. | The group said the women chose to remain anonymous because they fear retaliation from those who support their coaches and the wider skating community. |
"They are very much afraid of potential retaliation and possible rejection from the community," Park Ji-hoon, a lawyer for Solidarity for Young Skaters, told the BBC. | "They are very much afraid of potential retaliation and possible rejection from the community," Park Ji-hoon, a lawyer for Solidarity for Young Skaters, told the BBC. |
Ms Sohn and the pressure group also called for an investigation into Jun Myung-kyu, the former national team coach and a hugely influential figure in South Korean speed skating, who they accused of concealing misconduct. | Ms Sohn and the pressure group also called for an investigation into Jun Myung-kyu, the former national team coach and a hugely influential figure in South Korean speed skating, who they accused of concealing misconduct. |
Mr Park said Mr Jun's actions had gone undetected for years because he had "influence over the Korean ice skating community... because [the] community and some politicians have protected him." | Mr Park said Mr Jun's actions had gone undetected for years because he had "influence over the Korean ice skating community... because [the] community and some politicians have protected him." |
Mr Jun has denied having any prior knowledge of the allegations or that he had knowledge of the abuse that led to one of his coaches being jailed for assault. | Mr Jun has denied having any prior knowledge of the allegations or that he had knowledge of the abuse that led to one of his coaches being jailed for assault. |
"I wasn't in a position to know everything about alleged sexual assaults," he told a press conference on Monday. | |
The SYS group has urged the government to carry out a survey of all athletes in an attempt to root out sexual violence in South Korea's sporting community. | The SYS group has urged the government to carry out a survey of all athletes in an attempt to root out sexual violence in South Korea's sporting community. |
How it began | How it began |
It all started in January 2018 when Olympic short-track speed skating gold-medallist Shim Suk-hee accused her former coach of repeatedly assaulting her since her teenage years. | It all started in January 2018 when Olympic short-track speed skating gold-medallist Shim Suk-hee accused her former coach of repeatedly assaulting her since her teenage years. |
Last September Cho Jae-beom was convicted of beating and abusing Ms Shim and other skaters. She said he had been beating her since she was seven - and had even broken her fingers with an ice hockey stick. | Last September Cho Jae-beom was convicted of beating and abusing Ms Shim and other skaters. She said he had been beating her since she was seven - and had even broken her fingers with an ice hockey stick. |
"He kicked and punched me so hard, especially on my head, that I even thought 'I could die here'", she said speaking at a court hearing last year. | "He kicked and punched me so hard, especially on my head, that I even thought 'I could die here'", she said speaking at a court hearing last year. |
Other athletes later came forward and Cho was last September sentenced to 10 months in jail for assaulting Ms Shim and three other skaters. | Other athletes later came forward and Cho was last September sentenced to 10 months in jail for assaulting Ms Shim and three other skaters. |
But in a complaint filed last month, the 21-year-old came out to accuse Cho of sexual assault. | But in a complaint filed last month, the 21-year-old came out to accuse Cho of sexual assault. |
She says the sexual assault started in 2014 when she was still a student and continued until shortly before the Pyeongchang Olympic games. His lawyers have denied this allegation. | She says the sexual assault started in 2014 when she was still a student and continued until shortly before the Pyeongchang Olympic games. His lawyers have denied this allegation. |
Her fresh charge of sexual abuse led almost 250,000 in South Korea to sign a petition demanding a longer jail term for Cho. | Her fresh charge of sexual abuse led almost 250,000 in South Korea to sign a petition demanding a longer jail term for Cho. |
Skating and beyond | Skating and beyond |
But the problem is not limited to South Korean skating. | But the problem is not limited to South Korean skating. |
Former tennis star Kim Eun-hee revealed last year that her tennis coach had been sexually assaulting her since the age of 10. | Former tennis star Kim Eun-hee revealed last year that her tennis coach had been sexually assaulting her since the age of 10. |
She remained silent until she ran into him at a tournament two years ago, and realised he was still coaching young tennis players. | She remained silent until she ran into him at a tournament two years ago, and realised he was still coaching young tennis players. |
Ms Kim filed a criminal complaint against him, and in October, he was convicted of rape with injury and sentenced to 10 years in jail. | Ms Kim filed a criminal complaint against him, and in October, he was convicted of rape with injury and sentenced to 10 years in jail. |
Former judo athlete Shin Yu-yong has also accused her former high school coach of repeatedly raping her over a period of four years. | Former judo athlete Shin Yu-yong has also accused her former high school coach of repeatedly raping her over a period of four years. |
He denied the allegations, saying instead that he was romantically involved with her. | He denied the allegations, saying instead that he was romantically involved with her. |
Despite this, the Korea Judo Association later said they had placed a lifetime ban on him, saying it was a "serious problem" that he had "inappropriate relations with a minor... whether or not [he] is found guilty." | Despite this, the Korea Judo Association later said they had placed a lifetime ban on him, saying it was a "serious problem" that he had "inappropriate relations with a minor... whether or not [he] is found guilty." |
South Korea's Human Rights Committee on Tuesday said it would establish an investigation team to look into the treatment of athletes. | South Korea's Human Rights Committee on Tuesday said it would establish an investigation team to look into the treatment of athletes. |
"We consider the seriousness of violence and sexual abuse in the sports field cannot be overlooked any longer," Choi Young-ae, the Chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea said at a press conference. | "We consider the seriousness of violence and sexual abuse in the sports field cannot be overlooked any longer," Choi Young-ae, the Chairwoman of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea said at a press conference. |
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