The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) will pursue a permanent disqualification of coaches involved in acts of violence against underage athletes, related to the 'shovel assault incident' that occurred in the wrestling team at a middle school in Sangju, Gyeongbuk.
On the 14th, the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC) noted, "Violence against minors and sexual crimes using the superior status of adults, as well as violence between athletes, can never be disguised as part of training or coaching," adding, "We will impose the highest level of punishment, including permanent disqualification for the offending coach."
Previously, in June, the coach of the wrestling team at a middle school in Sangju, Gyeongbuk, struck the head of a second-year student with a shovel, citing a lack of proper training attitude as the issue. The injured student suffered significant injuries requiring stitches but did not report the assault to outsiders. The full details of the incident came to light when the student's father discovered the student attempting to take extreme measures.
The committee defined this incident as "a serious human rights violation that demonstrates the deeply rooted structure of violence and silence still present in some parts of the sports community, where a coach inflicted serious injury on a student athlete and concealed the incident for a long time." Thus, it plans to establish a system for simultaneous protection of victims and removal of offenders.
Earlier, on May 26, the committee resolved to amend regulations through the Sports Integrity Committee to introduce stricter penalties for violence and sexual crimes against minors by adult coaches, extend the statute of limitations for disciplinary actions, starting the calculation from the point the victim reaches adulthood, and mandate immediate separation and psychological stabilization measures for both victims and offenders.
In light of this incident, the committee plans to apply these regulations immediately in the field and pursue additional amendments if necessary.
Yoo Seong-min, the chair of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (KSOC), stated, "I will fulfill our responsibility to protect victims and ensure a safe sports environment," adding, "We will work with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Ministry of Education to eradicate violence and concealment practices in all fields, including school sports teams."