By Kim Tong-hyung
Staff Reporter
The Korean Olympic Committee (KOC) nominated former Kookmin Bank Vice President Koo Ahn-sook as its new secretary general Wednesday. If approved by the sporting body's board of directors, the 53-year-old will become the first women to take the job in the 88-year history of the KOC.
Koo, a New York University graduate, has led an established career in the finance industry, working at executive posts at the Bank of America, Citi Bank, and Woori Bank before becoming the first female vice president ever at Kookmin in 2006.
The KOC has been looking for a high-profiler among women to take the vacant secretary-general post in the aftermath of a public relations crisis following recent criticism that sports authorities have been lukewarm in responding to cases on sexual abuse of female athletes.
A KBS documentary earlier this month aired interviews of unnamed female athletes claiming to have been harassed or raped by their male coaches, triggering a fierce debate in the media.