“Suspicions of illegal use of Gangwon Badminton Association subsidies… must be fully investigated”

The issue of poor management and supervision of the Gangwon Provincial Sports Council came to the fore in connection with the incident in which officials from 13 city and county badminton associations in the Gangwon region were accused of illegal use of competition subsidies.

At the administrative affairs audit of the Administrative and Cultural Committee of the Gangwon Provincial Council held on the 11th, Rep. Park Ho-gyun (Gangneung 1, People Power Party) intensively questioned the Gangwon Provincial Sports Council about the management and supervision of the recently raised suspicion of illegal use of Badminton Association subsidies.

Rep. Park asked whether 31 executives from badminton associations in 13 cities and counties in the province were aware in advance that they had been reported to the police, and the provincial sports association responded, "We first found out about it through media reports."

Rep. Park emphasized that since the operation of the competition is a project that involves both participation fees and local subsidies, overall income and expenditures must be managed transparently.

In particular, it was emphasized that a complete investigation of the income and expenditure details for each competition should be conducted to check whether participation fee income is omitted or overlapping subsidies and participation fees are used.

In addition, he ordered that the receipts for the purchase of trial products be compared with the actual purchase quantity and the executives' lodging and meal expenses details.

Rep. Park said, “The provincial sports association should not evade responsibility just because it does not directly manage the city/county sports association,” and also pointed out that the provincial sports association and the provincial sports organizations should investigate, guide, and supervise within their respective scopes of authority and responsibility.

Rep. Park said, “Every year when administrative audits point out issues of misconduct in sports organizations, we respond that we will make improvements, but similar problems are recurring,” and added, “If this situation continues, the provincial sports association cannot escape its responsibility for management and supervision.”

He added, “Instead of just waiting for the results of the police investigation, the sports association should actively conduct investigations and inspections that can be done,” adding, “If illegal or unfair actions are confirmed, please take necessary measures in accordance with the relevant regulations.”

Previously, Mr. A (54), a sports badminton fan, reported 31 officials of badminton associations in 13 cities and counties in the province to the Gangwon Police Agency on charges of violation of local subsidy laws and embezzlement on the 3rd.

Mr. A raised suspicions that he had used subsidies illegally, such as under-reporting or omitting participation fee income from national badminton competitions held in each region and inflating the number of trial products purchased.

The accusation also included suspicions that subsidies were used inappropriately for meal and lodging expenses for executives of other local associations.

In response, the provincial badminton association denied the suspicion, saying that the execution and settlement of tournament proceeds and subsidies were carried out normally in accordance with relevant guidelines.