Xinhua news agency, Seoul, January 9 (he yuan, Zhang Yi) Lu Taigang, the second official of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of South Korea, held a press conference on the 9th, expressing regret that the famous South Korean short track speed skating general accused Zhao zai fan, the former national team coach, of sexual assault on Shim Suk-hee, promise to comprehensively review relevant systems and countermeasures.
Lu Taigang said that relevant departments would further strengthen the punishment regulations for the perpetrators of sexual violence and prohibit the perpetrators from engaging in sports-related affairs. At the same time, South Korea plans to strengthen cooperation with international agencies to restrict the attackers from working overseas. The Ministry of Culture and Sports will also set up a working group to review the current regulations, and at the same time carry out a comprehensive investigation at all levels led by the people, involving national teams and local sports groups, so as to prevent violations such as sexual violence in sports circles.
The Complaint of Zhao zai fan’s sexual assault on Shim Suk-hee was exposed on the 8th, causing an uproar in South Korea.
According to South Korean media reports, on last September, Zhao zaifan was sentenced to 10 months in prison in the first trial for allegedly beating and other violent acts against national team members such as Shim Suk-hee for a long time. On 17th day of last month, the second trial of Zhao zaifan’s case was held. On Shim Suk-hee, he appeared in court as a witness, accusing Zhao zaifan of long-term indecent assault and sexual assault, demanding severe punishment for the former national team coach.
According to Shim Suk-hee, in about four years from the summer of 2014 to the opening of the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, she was in the village of tailing players, the village of Zhenchuan players, sport in South Korea University skating rink and other places suffered sexual violence by Zhao zaifan many times, including beatings, abuse and threats.
Lawyers in Shim Suk-hee said that the police had previously proposed to keep the information related to the prosecution confidential due to the need of investigation. In order to prevent similar incidents from happening again, Shim Suk-hee recently summoned up the courage to disclose this incident. The lawyer said that he hoped that the relevant departments would conduct an investigation fairly and quickly to ensure that Zhao zaifan received the severe punishment he deserved.
Zhao zaifan is currently detained by the police, and his lawyer totally denies the suspicion of sexual assault. The police have confiscated Zhao zaifan’s mobile phone, tablet computer and other personal devices, and launched an investigation and analysis.
Shim Suk-hee when I was in primary school, I was attracted by Zhao zaifan and began to practice skating. In 2014, 17-year-old Shim Suk-hee participated in the Sochi Winter Olympics as a South Korean short track speed skating national team player, and won the women’s short track speed skating 3000-meter relay champion, 1500-meter army and 1000-meter third place. In the 2018 Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, she won the 3,000-meter relay gold medal with the team.