Even under pressure from all directions...Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Sports Council, passes the first gateway to the third term.

[Anchor]
Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, whose job has been suspended due to various allegations of misconduct, has crossed the first gateway to the third term.

Despite the government's all-round pressure and internal members' opposition, it passed the Sports Fair Commission's review.

This is reporter Cho Eun-ji.

[Reporter]
Voices calling for the resignation of Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korean Sports Council, rang out at the Olympic Hall.

Ahead of the plenary session of the Sports and Fair Commission, which will determine the eligibility of Chairman Lee Ki-heung for a second term, the sports association's labor union called for fair and strict screening.

[Kim Seong-ha / Chairman of the Korea Sports Association Trade Union: Due to the leadership of Chairman Lee Ki-heung, it is impossible to do the main job of sports administration and it has become an organization that is criticized by the public for various external investigations and audits....]

In a closed-door meeting that lasted for more than two hours amid heated media attention, the Fair Commissioners cleared the way for Chairman Lee to run in January next year.

It was judged that there was no reason for disqualification for the third term challenge.

The quantitative and qualitative evaluations were evaluated in half, and although there were flaws in ethics and integrity, it faithfully reflected the fact that he is an incumbent IOC member and his good performance at the Olympics.

After the anonymous vote, it was reported that the second term was decided without much controversy.

Starting with Kim Byung-chul, chairman of the Fair Trade Commission, who served as a special adviser to Lee Ki-heung in the past, the fact that the committee was formed as a person favorable to the current system is also likely to have played a role.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed regret that it no longer expects fairness to the sports association and announced that it would push for legal and institutional improvements, such as entrusting a separate organization to deliberate on consecutive terms.

Chairman Lee passed the first gateway to his third consecutive term, but the investigation situation and even the judiciary's judgment are expected to be variables.

The government's inspection revealed allegations of illegal hiring of employees and receiving money and valuables, and as the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism suspended its duties, it is tied up as the president of sports.

Chairman Lee has taken legal action by applying for an injunction against suspension of execution to the Seoul Administrative Court, and plans to focus on public opinion campaigns separately.

Chairman Lee, who has not yet officially announced his bid for a third term, will return home tomorrow (13th) a day earlier from his business trip to Switzerland to express his position.

I'm Jo Eun Ji of YTN.

Reporter for shooting
: Lee Youngjae
Video editing: Choi Yeon-ho
Design: Jeon Whee-rin