IOC vice-president given prison sentence

International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Kim Un-yong was today sentenced to two and a half years in prison on corruption…

International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice-president Kim Un-yong was today sentenced to two and a half years in prison on corruption charges by a court in South Korea.

The 73-year-old, one of the most powerful officials in the IOC, was arrested in January on charges connected with his leadership of the South Korean National Olympic Committee and the World Taekwondo Federation.

He was found guilty of embezzling $3.27 million from taekwondo federations and receiving bribes from sports officials and businesses.

Taekwondo is South and North Korea's national martial art and an Olympic sport.

READ MORE

Kim's lawyer, Oh Se-chang, said his client would appeal.

Kim resigned from all official positions in South Korea in January.  He was suspended by the IOC soon after pending an investigation into the charges against him.