"Unfair Disciplinary Action Over Live Ammo Leak"... KSOC Chief Yoo Seungmin Vows "Strict Measures If Misconduct Is Confirmed"

Following an exclusive report by SBS yesterday (October 21) regarding controversies over the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's (KSOC) inadequate handling and unfair disciplinary action over a live ammunition leak incident, the KSOC faced sharp criticism at today's parliamentary audit held by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee.

Representative Jin Sunmi of the Democratic Party of Korea pointed out that during the KSOC's internal audit and disciplinary process regarding the leak of live practice ammunition at the Jincheon National Training Center in February 2025, "the head of training planning and head of the training headquarters, who was the direct superior in the shooting range management system at the time, was excluded from the audit."

Rep. Jin criticized, "It is difficult to accept that he escaped disciplinary action on the grounds that it was merely a formal system because he had not received a single report in 15 years," adding, "He should have inspected and received reports on the shooting range as a whole at least once."

In particular, the fact that the director in question was promoted to deputy secretary general after KSOC President Yoo Seungmin took office was also pointed out as a problem.

Rep. Jin stated, "The deputy secretary general is the very person who, after learning of the leak, ordered a press release to be issued to the media saying there was 'no problem,'" adding, "When the working-level staff member was referred to the disciplinary committee, a request for recusal against the deputy secretary general was filed, but the deputy secretary general kept his post and ultimately only the working-level staff member who drafted the press release was disciplined."

In response, KSOC President Yoo Seungmin explained, "When I ordered a complete inspection after last year's parliamentary audit, an internal report came up saying 'there is no problem,' so we issued the press release," but answered, "I understand that there were issues in the reporting chain among the head of the training center, the management headquarters director, and the department head at the time."

President Yoo continued, "Taking these criticisms seriously, we will thoroughly review our internal procedures, and if misconduct is confirmed, we will take strict measures," expressing his willingness to conduct a reinvestigation.

This afternoon, KSOC Deputy Secretary General Shin Dong-gwang, who was singled out in the allegations, appeared as a witness at the parliamentary audit.

Rep. Jin raised her voice, saying, "At the time of the live ammunition leak incident, Deputy Secretary General Shin was the head of training planning and head of the training headquarters, who held management and supervisory responsibility under the shooting range organizational structure, yet he avoided disciplinary action and served as the disciplinary committee chair to oversee the punishment of working-level staff," adding, "Ordering a false press release to be issued and refusing to accept even the recusal request filed by the staff member who wrote it is 'self-discipline' and the height of unfairness."

In response, Deputy Secretary General Shin bowed his head, explaining, "I never instructed anyone to draft false information, and at the time, I received a report that there was no issue," while adding, "I blame myself for the unfairness the disciplined individual must have felt, and it was my oversight."

President Yoo also acknowledged that it was "inappropriate" for Deputy Secretary General Shin to serve as the disciplinary committee chair, answering, "As head of the organization, I express my regrets to the person disciplined and those who felt uncomfortable because I failed to oversee things thoroughly. I will examine this carefully and separately report the progress, including a reinvestigation, to the lawmaker."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.