Probe begins into national swimmer selection

By Kim Bo-eun

Prosecutors are looking into the team selection process of the nation's swimming governing body, following alleged influence-peddling involving a high-ranking official there.

Officials at the Seoul Central District Prosecutors’ Office said Tuesday they arrested an executive-level official of the Korea Swimming Federation, surnamed Jeong, 56, for allegedly receiving bribes in selecting swimmers for major international competitions.

A recent special audit by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism discovered that the federation violated regulations in selecting national team members for major international competitions from 2010 to 2013.

The 2010 Guangzhou Asian Games, the 2012 London Olympics and the 2013 Barcelona FINA World Championships were held during this period.

According to the swimming body's rule, selections for major competitions must be done though trials.

However, the federation skipped trials for diving and synchronized swimming, and instead selected team members based on recommendations from each of the events' committees and a review by another federation committee, according to the ministry’s audit. Coaches for the national teams were also selected in this way.

Jeong, head of the latter committee at the time, allegedly exercised influence over the selection of swimmers and coaches.

The ministry was aware of the federation’s skipping the trials at that time, but did not take punitive action just telling the federation to abide by the rules, according to the prosecution.

“People in the swimming field say the selection of the national swimming team up to 2013 was solely the decision of only a few officials holding power within the federation,” a prosecutor said.

The prosecution is also investigating another executive-level official surnamed Park, 49, who runs a swimming club.

Park is suspected of having paid Jeong regularly in return for selecting swimmers at his club for the national team.

“Sources said Jeong openly promoted Park's club, telling parents that they needed to send their children to the club in order for them to be selected for the national team,” the prosecutor said.

The prosecution summoned Park recently as a witness and he gave detailed testimony about the alleged corruption, he added.