Head of Olympic delegation resigns

Yu Kyung-sun, the head of Korea’s athletic delegation for the London Olympics, has stepped down amid prosecutors’ ongoing investigation against him, the nation’s top sports organization said yesterday.

Yu made his offer Monday and the Korean Olympic Committee accepted his resignation, a month after his inauguration in early February, according to the KOC.

The resignation comes as Yu, the chairman of local business group Eugene Corp., appeared before prosecutors last Monday for questioning about his alleged signing of a back-door deal with Himart, a major Korean home appliance retailer, when the company acquired Himart in 2007.

Through the contract, Himart Chairman Sun Jong-koo is suspected of securing managerial rights and receiving favors from Yu.

The 56-year-old businessman first became involved with athletics as the chairman of the Korea Triathlon Federation in 2000. He has since worked with the KOC and the Olympic Council of Asia.

Yu has also served on the organizing committees for the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon and the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, both to be hosted by Korea. Yonhap