Korean skating news & updates

[Theatregirl1122]

I'm also still not seeing where there's any official confirmation that B sent the pictures she took of A to skater C or that there were any photos of the assault. None of the reliable sources or translations are reporting that - only the ones that seem to be more fan account-esque are.

I think that is coming from people making assumptions and commenting them as if they are truth? It seems like what is actually being reported is that B took sexually explicit pictures of A and potentially that she showed them to or sent them to C. There's nothing that suggests that suggests there were pictures of the assault.

As far as the junior skater's name being kept private, it looks like that ship has sailed. It seems like it is known in Korea already who it was.

 

[AngieNikodinovLove (ANL)]

A and B are grown women correct? It’s just odd that a junior male was involved. That’s so strange and unfortunate that happened.

 

[Evgeniafan]

It's sad that the bar is so low, but I appreciate that KSU acted so swiftly and decisively in this matter. Sanctioning their top two senior women will likely impact their ability to get spots for the Olympics, but they are rightfully putting skating second. We can debate if the punishment is enough, but I'm sadly so shocked to see any significant action taken in a timely manner.

I think the spots for the Olympics can be made by Yelim and Chaeyeon. And Jia is their most hope for possible Olympic medal as she is of age 2025-2026 season.

 

[rfisher]

A and B are grown women correct? It’s just odd that a junior male was involved. That’s so strange and unfortunate that happened.

junior doesn't necessarily mean a child since junior skaters can be in their late teens. Legal age of sexual consent in Italy is 14.

 

[seabm7]

As far as the junior skater's name being kept private, it looks like that ship has sailed. It seems like it is known in Korea already who it was.

That is not correct. His name was never mentioned in the news. The public reports are very careful to get rid of speculations on a minor.

EDT: removed redundant expression

 

[bladesofgorey]

junior doesn't necessarily mean a child since junior skaters can be in their late teens. Legal age of sexual consent in Italy is 14.

I don't know what legal age of consent in Italy has to do with with this since the charges are that it wasn't consensual?

 

[Theatregirl1122]

That is not correct. His name was never mentioned in the news. The public reports are very careful to get rid of speculations on a minor.

EDT: removed redundant expression

I didn't say it had been mentioned in the news. Many Korean fans have said that people know who it was.

 

[Karen-W]

I didn't say it had been mentioned in the news. Many Korean fans have said that people know who it was.

I think the reason that Korean FS fans think they know who it is simply has to do with which skaters were at that camp and there were only two men. I haven't gone down the rabbit hole (and have no intention of doing so) to try and suss out which of the two is Skater C but the fact is everyone guessing has a 50% chance of getting it right.

 

[leilaofpaper]

In terms of Haein Lee and Young You - are they the only adult women’s skaters on the National Team?

 

[Karen-W]

In terms of Haein Lee and Young You - are they the only adult women’s skaters on the National Team?

No, but they were the only two adult women who were at the training camp in Italy where this incident happened.

Junhwan Cha is not in Varese (eta: as well as a few others) - 8 elite singles skaters seem to be there: https://x.com/junhwanchaeng/status/1790635117997625459
L to R in the photo: Jaekeun Lee, Seojin Youn, Minsol Kwon, Minkyu Seo, Yuseong Kim, Yujae Kim, Young You, Haien Lee
*Not attending due to personal training schedule: Junhwan Cha, Jia Shin, Chaeyeon Kim, Seoyoung Wi

 

[Colonel Green]

A and B are grown women correct? It’s just odd that a junior male was involved. That’s so strange and unfortunate that happened.

They’re 20 and 19. The age difference is justifiably legally significant but it’s not unusual for people that close in age to be interacting socially (especially in training environments).

 

[Karen-W]

They’re 20 and 19. The age difference is justifiably legally significant but it’s not unusual for people that close in age to be interacting socially (especially in training environments).

The junior guys are 16 and 15 - I'd say that if we were talking about this situation with the genders of the senior and junior skaters reversed the outcry and criticism of Lee & You would be much louder and the online fandom would have the pitchforks and torches out for them a la "The Mob Song" from Beauty & the Beast.

 

[canbelto]

Wow this is awful news to come home to after a rollicking end of year staff party.

 

[canbelto]

Also I am a bit confused. Apparently the translation of what A did is unclear: was it sexual harassment or sexual assault? Both are awful but I think SA should be punished more severely.

 

[Karen-W]

Also I am a bit confused. Apparently the translation of what A did is unclear: was it sexual harassment or sexual assault? Both are awful but I think SA should be punished more severely.

The Xwitter thread linked a page back to the Korean skating translations account said that the original Korean phrase describing what A did equates to sexual assault.

 

[canbelto]

The Xwitter thread linked a page back to the Korean skating translations account said that the original Korean phrase describing what A did equates to sexual assault.

Omg that's horrible.

 

[On My Own]

If that happens, I really hope the fans in Korea and abroad will show him some love and this incident won't affect his competitive career too deeply, and of course that it won't scar him for life on a more personal level either.

I'm sure fans in Korea will blame C for everything.

I've seen K-fans criticizing both women and expressing disappointment in them.

 

[On My Own]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1804382297103438300

 

[SHARPIE]

Can the speculation on the identity of SA victims end on this thread please?

 

[On My Own]

The problem began w the drinking..Yes, attending the camp on the Fed's dime..means one knows the rules..When inklings of this first surfaced..many were of the opinion.."Oh..let the girlies drink.."First mistake..and it took off from there.

You know what actually gets me is that so many of the abuse stories in this sport have happened at parties? IIRC someone even pointed out underage drinking when it shouldn't have been the case.

This training camp had juniors. These rules exist for a reason. Yet, the first reaction for many was "let the girls have their fun". So again. Don't care if they thought it was "only" alcohol. I hope they're feeling shame after seeing this.

 

[Wyliefan]

That's a really weird hope. The people who should be feeling shame are the perpetrators, not random people on the Internet who remarked something like, "Gee, those rules about drinking sound really strict" before they went on with their lives. You know, the people who didn't actually hurt anybody or endorse hurting anybody.

 

[her grace]

The junior guys are 16 and 15 - I'd say that if we were talking about this situation with the genders of the senior and junior skaters reversed the outcry and criticism of Lee & You would be much louder and the online fandom would have the pitchforks and torches out for them a la "The Mob Song" from Beauty & the Beast.

OTOH I don’t recall a currently competing male skater ever being punished with a 3 year ban for sexual harassment or sexual assault. Some of the outcry is because the guys always seem to get away with it.

 

[Lilia A]

OTOH I don’t recall a currently competing male skater ever being punished with a 3 year ban for sexual harassment or sexual assault. Some of the outcry is because the guys always seem to get away with it.

The KSU did the right thing and took action against the perpetrators. I would like to think that if the perps were male they would have done the same. One can only hope that other skating federations/sports federations will also start taking prompt action when sexual assault is reported and not wait years for an investigation to take place.

 

[Karen-W]

The KSU did the right thing and took action against the perpetrators. I would like to think that if the perps were male they would have done the same. One can only hope that other skating federations/sports federations will also start taking prompt action when sexual assault is reported and not wait years for an investigation to take place.

Well, I'm not sure that most situations are as cut and dry as this one appears to be. When you're stupid enough to take pictures, it stops a lot of the "one person's word against another's" nature of most sexual assault/harassment allegations cold.

 

[On My Own]

OTOH I don’t recall a currently competing male skater ever being punished with a 3 year ban for sexual harassment or sexual assault. Some of the outcry is because the guys always seem to get away with it.

Actually, look up Lim Hyojun (short track skater who now competes for China as Lin Xiaojun). He was convicted of sexual harassment, and was banned for a year. He then appealed and was cleared before he switched to China. This is not to minimize what you're saying or to say this is what might have happened in this case, but that a Korean male has been dealt with punishment, from I'm guessing the same "Korean Skating Union".

Lim Hyo-jun chooses to naturalize in China to skate

Olympic short track speed skating gold medalist Lim Hyo-jun has applied for Chinese citizenship because he has been prevented from practicing in Korea and competing under the taegeukgi due to a sexual harassment charge.

koreajoongangdaily.joins.com

[Newsmaker] Top court confirms acquittal of Olympic short track champion in sexual harassment case

The Supreme Court said Wednesday it has confirmed the not-guilty verdict for South Korean-born short track speed skater Lim Hyo-jun in a sexual harassment case. The top court has upheld the appellate court's decision to acquit Lim of sexually harassing a male teammate at South Korea's national...

www.koreaherald.com

 

[Theatregirl1122]

I'm also still not seeing where there's any official confirmation that B sent the pictures she took of A to skater C or that there were any photos of the assault. None of the reliable sources or translations are reporting that - only the ones that seem to be more fan account-esque are.

Well, I'm not sure that most situations are as cut and dry as this one appears to be. When you're stupid enough to take pictures, it stops a lot of the "one person's word against another's" nature of most sexual assault/harassment allegations cold.

As Willin mentioned, it's not being reported that there were photos of the incident.

 

[Hedwig]

Seeing as men often came off free without any punishment whatsoever even if there was video evidence of the rape I would not say that pictures are per se solid proof that always lead to conviction, though (regardless if they exist in this case or not)
I think the upside really is to see a federation to take swift and decisive action even if it hurts their medal chances.
And about partying: I am no big alcohol lover and think it should be used cautiously. But it is nonsense not to let young people party anymore (with or wo alcohol) because some people cannot behave themselves. Partying and socializing is such an important part of growing up.
Rather we need adults to explain the dangers, we need officials to deal out harsh punishment if things like these happen and we need ground rules. But not partying to stop per se.
The problem in the past was imo mostly that male got away with sexual harassment (and still do).
And that needs to be changed in all societies.

 

[Stephanie]

This news report, based on blurred video, makes it pretty clear who athlete A is: https://n.news.naver.com/article/422/0000666654?sid=161

while also mentioning that (per Google translate), "It is known that the two players were once in a romantic relationship."

 

[On My Own]

In that article from @Stephanie, A is a woman and B is the junior male. (It seems A is indeed Lee)

 

[Karen-W]

As Willin mentioned, it's not being reported that there were photos of the incident.

Just to be clear - yes, the news reports DO confirm that there were photos taken. Not necessarily of the incident in the dorm between female A and male C, but that female B took photos of female A without her consent and then showed them to male C.