Arrest Warrant Issued for Kim Woon-yong

Special Division 2 of the Seoul District Prosecutor’s Office, led by Senior Prosecutor Chae Dong-wook, has ordered Kim Woon-yong, a vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), to voluntarily appear by the morning of January 15.

Before this, an arrest warrant naming Kim as a suspect in embezzlement and illegal money receipts was issued by prosecutors on the night of January 13.

The prosecution informed Kim to be present at the prosecutor’s office by 10 a.m. on January 14, but they was not able to investigate him due to a sudden fainting spell from Kim. The prosecution announced on January 14 that they would decide whether or not they would execute the warrant of arrest after monitoring his condition.

“He is under treatment for high blood pressure and vertigo in the neurosurgery and cardiology divisions, and he will requires hospital treatment for approximately a week,” said a spokesperson from Shinchon Severance Hospital, where Kim is currently hospitalized.

“Kim suddenly fell into a faint and was rushed to the emergency room. He is now in the hospital’s intensive care unit,” sources close to Kim said.

It was reported that prosecutors have confirmed a substantial portion of the charges when they summoned Kim twice before: on December 29 of last year and early this month.

Sang-Rok Lee myzodan@donga.com