Kim Woon-yong Resigns from His Seat

Kim Woon-yong, a lawmaker from the Millennium Democratic Party revealed on January 9 that he would resign his membership in the National Assembly and his post as the president of the World Taekwondo Federation (WTF) and the World Taekwondo Headquarters. He has been investigated by the prosecutor on a charge of embezzlement and illegal money receipt, such as misappropriation of the WTF funds and violation of the foreign exchange control law.

At an urgent conference that was held in the National Assembly press interview room, he said, “I made this decision feeling heavy responsibility for raising a scandal concerning my diplomatic activity in sports,” through a press kit titled “To the Nation.”

“For thirty years I have run only forward for the sake of developing of Korean sports. I acknowledge my wrong in continuing to run without looking right and left,” said Kim adding that he will serve as a commoner from now on.

In regard to the question asking whether he would resign from his post as vice-president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), he answered, “I said everything in the conference statement.” Yet his aides said, “The membership in the IOC is different from the one of the National Assembly. He will not resign.”

Meanwhile, the Millennium Democratic Party revealed that the chairman of Arsenal, Lee Jong-seong, would succeed Kim’s post as a member of the House elected from the national constituency according to the ranking in the candidate list of proportional representation.

Hyung-gwon Pu bookum90@donga.com