[Anchor]

In February last year, an incident occurred in which 20,000 rounds of live ammunition were leaked from the shooting range at the Jincheon National Training Center for national athletes. Heavy criticism was poured on the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee for failing to manage them properly, leading to a large-scale government audit. However, the committee only issued light disciplinary measures to the two working-level officials in charge. Furthermore, it has been revealed that the meeting that decided these disciplinary actions was led by an official connected to the shooting range.

Reporter Go Jeong-hyeon has this exclusive report.

[Reporter]

October last year, the parliamentary audit of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee.

When allegations were raised that live rounds had been removed without authorization from the shooting range at the Jincheon National Training Center, the committee promised an investigation at the time.

[Ryu Seung-min / President of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee (October 27 last year): "I certainly believe that our Korean Sport & Olympic Committee also bears significant responsibility."]

Three days later, the committee issued a press release claiming that "a complete enumeration survey found no problems." However, a subsequent government audit revealed that in February last year, 20,000 rounds of live ammunition had been removed from the armory at the Jincheon National Training Center shooting range and were illegally distributed on the market.

The shooting coach who took out the live rounds was indicted and sent to trial.

Then, what kind of disciplinary actions did committee officials receive?

These are the minutes of the Korean Sport & Olympic Committee's disciplinary committee obtained by SBS through the office of Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Jin Sun-mee.

The committee was confirmed to have imposed only light disciplinary measures this past May: a two-month pay cut for shooting range manager A and a reprimand for B, who was the head of the training center's safety department.

Moreover, the grounds for the disciplinary actions were limited to "improper reporting," such as drafting the false press release.

Afterward, the government demanded that A receive "at least minor disciplinary action" to hold them accountable for ammunition management as well, but the committee refused, citing reasons such as that the person was "soon to retire at the mandatory age" and that it would constitute "double punishment."

It was also revealed that C, who was the head of the department responsible for ammunition management, served as the chair of the disciplinary committee regarding A and B.

At the time, B filed a request to recuse C from participating in the committee, stating, "C is the person who ordered the drafting of the problematic press release over the phone," but the request was dismissed.

In response to criticism that the committee, which had loopholes in its ammunition management, was also lenient in its follow-up disciplinary actions, the committee explained, "The disciplinary process was conducted in accordance with regulations." C stated, "I have never received any report from A regarding ammunition management, nor have I ever signed off on any related approvals."

(Video by Lee Seung-hwan and Kim Yong-woo | Video Editing by Wi Won-yang | Design by Kim Min-young)