Complainants seek review after police clear KSOC chief Yu of national team, breach of trust allegations

A civic group in the sports community that filed a criminal complaint against Korean Sport & Olympic Committee President Yu Seung-min has applied for a police investigation review, arguing the case warrants further scrutiny after police declined to refer it to prosecutors.

According to police and local media reports Thursday, the group submitted the review application to the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency on Sept. 7. The application targets allegations that Yu improperly influenced national team selections and committed breach of trust during his tenure as head of the Korea Table Tennis Association.

The complainants had earlier filed an objection to the police's decision not to refer the case, but police refused to accept it. The review application followed, asking authorities to examine both whether that refusal was appropriate and whether reinvestigation is warranted.

Under current criminal procedure law, complainants — as opposed to victims — are excluded from filing objections to a police decision not to refer a case to prosecutors. The group has argued that it has a direct stake in the matter and should effectively be treated as an aggrieved party.

Police accepted the initial complaint against Yu in July last year and launched an investigation, ultimately deciding in July this year not to refer the case to prosecutors.

During Yu's tenure at the table tennis association, the organization ran a system that paid incentives to those who brought in sponsorship funds. The complainants alleged that Yu and his leadership team used vague rules to authorize incentive payments that caused financial harm to the association.

Police concluded that breach of trust charges could not be established, finding that Yu and other association executives at the time lacked the authority to decide on incentive payments.

Suspicions were also raised that the brother of the head of Yu's agency received around 200 million won ($145,000) in incentives on Yu's behalf, but police determined through their investigation that there was insufficient evidence to conclude Yu had received the money.

Yu also faced allegations that he had improperly used his influence to ensure a specific athlete was selected for the national team for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, held in 2021. Police rejected those charges as well, finding that Yu had exercised legitimate authority as head of the organization during the selection process.

Police also found no evidence that Yu had used his position to coerce committee members through intimidation. Under the criminal code, obstruction of business requires proof of deception or the use of force.