Power Corrupts - World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)
World Taekwondo Federation (WTF)
Governing body for Olympic Taekwondo
Sports Body Probes Vice-President. January 10, 2004. Associated Press
LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) -- International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has asked its Ethics Committee to investigate a financial scandal surrounding IOC vice president Kim Un-yong, who resigned on Friday as a Korean lawmaker and also world Taekwondo chief.
Kim has been questioned by South Korean prosecutors about allegations he collected illicit money from former South Korean Olympic officials and embezzled funds from Taekwondo organizations.
"The situation is that we have written to the Ethics Committee and asked them to look into the matter and give us their advice," IOC spokesman Giselle Davies said Saturday, "The letter went out yesterday and we haven't had a response yet."
Friday's developments have put Kim's position as IOC vice-president in jeopardy. In an emotional resignation speech in Seoul on Friday, Kim said he was quitting as head of the World Taekwondo Federation, which he has headed for three decades.
"I made this decision while feeling a heavy sense of responsibility for causing controversy in connection with my sports diplomacy," he said, reading a prepared statement.
Kim also gave up two posts he held in South Korea: national lawmaker affiliated with the opposition Democratic Millennium Party, and head of the World Taekwondo Headquarters, a Seoul-based institute that issues Taekwondo credentials.
"While doing this, I sometimes got careless, and I admit that I did things wrong," he said. "I bow my head and offer my deep apologies."
Last month, South Korean prosecutors raided Kim's house and offices, seizing a private safe and documents. Prosecutors suspect Kim of embezzling funds from the World Taekwondo Federation and the World Taekwondo Headquarters. He also faces allegations that he received money in return for helping two men become members of the Korean Olympic Committee. Prosecutors in Seoul said that they had seized about 6.5 billion won ($ 5.4 million) from Mr. Kim's home and office.