By Moon Gwang-lip
Staff Reporter
Despite recovery _ even slower than expected _ from a chronic back injury, Korean figure skater Kim Yu-na, 16, has yet to see light at the end of the tunnel. The 2007 World bronze medallist is facing a severe court battle over changing agents.
On April 20, Kim's mother Park Mi-hee notified IMG Korea, which managed Kim over the past year, of her and her husband's decision to part from the agent, saying IMG Korea's management was not satisfactory.
Five days later, Park signed a three-year contract with IB Korea, granting the local sports marketing firm exclusive rights as an agent for the skater in the business areas of advertising, licensing, publishing, Internet content and even movies.
Lee Jung-han, IMG Korea president, responded with legal action, claiming it is a double contract. He hired a lawyer from Kim & Chang, the biggest law firm in Korea, and is preparing to file the lawsuit.
He said the contract between his company and Kim's parents was made with the consent of both parties and a mutual agreement is required as well to nullify it.
Ahn Sang-wook, IB Sports vice president, replied that there was no illegality in Kim entering into a new contract as the deal between IMG Korea and Kim's parents was just an agent contract. Ahn quoted a local civil code stating any party in an agent contract can notify of its intention to terminate the deal at any time unilaterally.
He said IB Sports made a more comprehensive ``management deal'' with Kim, not an agent one.
``Kim's commercial value is great, and we will do anything we can on and off the rink to support her to become a stronger and dominant figure skater in the world,'' Ahn was quoted as saying by a local paper.
Kim, the 2006 junior champion, rose to international fame under the management of IMG Korea winning a gold medal in the International Skating Union Grand Prix in Paris last November _ the first gold medal in the 100 years of Korean figure skating history. She also won a bronze medal in the World Figure Skating Championships in Tokyo last month after a slight injury to her back in early January.
Kim's parents, however, have been dissatisfied with what they say is a lack of support from IMG Korea as an agent.
According to IB Sports, Kim's parents said IMG Korea did little in helping Kim.
The company said Kim's mother complained about overseas air travel, for which Kim only used economy-class seats without any financial support from IMG Korea.
Kim's parents were not reached for comment.
IMG Korea said, under the contract, it is only responsible for Kim's sponsorship, participation in an event and schedule management. The company said it is not right for Kim's parents to breach the contract, using the excuse of the lack of provision of things that were not stated in it.
Separately, Kim, an invitee at a gala show for the Japan Open, might not participate in the figure skating competition slated for Sunday in Saitama Prefecture on Honshu Island.
The International Skating Union (ISU), the world's governing body of the sport, notified the Korea Skating Union last weekend that Kim is not allowed to join the exhibition match, as she is not on the competitors' list for the main event.
The Japan Open, beginning last year, is an annual competition held among figure skaters from Japan, the United States and Europe.
The Japanese organizer of the competition, however, had invited Kim as a special guest for its gala show to draw more public interest, making use of Kim's widespread popularity in Japan. A rivalry between Kim and her fellow 16-year-old Mao Asada of Japan has made headlines in the media of both countries. Asada was ahead of Kim in March, taking a silver medal in the world championships after her compatriot Miki Ando.
A KSU official said the Japan Open organizer and the ISU are in talks over the issue, adding there is still a chance for the ISU to allow Kim to join the event.