Kukkiwon president Lee Dong-seop was recently embroiled in controversy over political neutrality.
The center of controversy is that president Lee Dong-seop applied for a primary in the National Assembly election in the First district of Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
president Lee Dong-seop entered the full-fledged National Assembly election race after completing the preliminary candidate registration process for the general election on December 14, 2023.
However, within the Taekwondo community, the current Kukkiwon president continues his overtly political actions with a negative view.
president Lee Dong-seop applied for and received approval for leave from January 22 to March 20 at the first extraordinary board meeting of Kukkiwon on January 12.
Kukkiwon’s higher-level department, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, issued official letters on two occasions, on January 11 and February 21, requesting prompt follow-up action along with the judgment of the relevant ministry that president Lee Dong-seop violated the obligation of political neutrality stipulated in the Articles of Incorporation. It has been delivered to the Board of Directors of Kukkiwon.
On March 13, the 2nd Kukkiwon temporary board meeting was held in the Kukkiwon classroom and future measures for president Lee Dong-seop, who is scheduled to return from leave at the same location after the adjournment, were discussed.
There was a strong opinion that president Lee Dong-seop should resign from office for violating political neutrality.
The Kukkiwon Articles of Incorporation clearly stipulate the obligation of political neutrality for executives. According to Article 11 (Duties of Executives) 6 of the Articles of Incorporation, Kukkiwon executives must maintain political neutrality in relation to the work of Kukkiwon.
The key issue in the controversy over violation of the Articles of Incorporation is whether president Lee’s actions are related to Kukkiwon’s work.
The controversy over president Lee’s retirement is an example of the conflict between his political actions and Kukkiwon’s political neutrality, and will be an important consideration in the future election of Kukkiwon president.
