Lee Ki-heung, President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee. /Courtesy of News1

Police have launched searches and seizures at the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee headquarters in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and the Jincheon National Training Center in North Chungcheong Province in connection with allegations against Korean Sports & Olympic Committee President Lee Gi-heung.

The anti-corruption investigation unit of the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency is currently securing documents related to allegations including hiring irregularities and third-party bribery involving committee president Lee. On the morning of the 18th, investigators were sent to the Jincheon National Training Center and the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee headquarters. Lee is accused of improperly instructing the hiring of a college friend of Lee's child as a training management staff member at the Jincheon National Training Center in 2022.

On the 10th of last month, the Government Integrated Public Service Inspection Team under the Office for Government Policy Coordination announced the results of an inspection on misconduct related to the Korean Sports & Olympic Committee. The inspection called for an investigation into Lee and others on grounds such as improper hiring of staff, demands for sponsored goods (including receipt of funds or items), and personal use of sponsored goods.