The South Korean government’s positive evaluation of two local sports federations has come under fire for its oversight of some recent wrongdoings by those bodies.
The Korea Volleyball Association and the Korea Wrestling Federation each scored high marks in the recent evaluation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and have received extra grants for training, according to sources.
The volleyball association was recognized for its ethical management and good financial standing, and the wrestling body was praised for its ethical practice, too.
But critics of the evaluation process pointed out Wednesday that both agencies were recently involved in scandals that should have resulted in lower scores.
In September 2009, Park Chul-woo, a member of the men’s national volleyball team, accused his coach, Lee Sang-yeol, of physically abusing him after a practice, with his teammates watching. Park claimed he had been hit in the face and the abdomen area, and had suffered symptoms of a concussion. Lee was suspended indefinitely, and a senior federation official handling the men’s national team resigned in the aftermath.
In November 2009, a national team wrestling coach was booked without detention for embezzling the federation’s training funds.
The coach and eight other coaches from badminton and artistic and rhythmic gymnastics were accused of misappropriating state training grants for personal use.
