Sports Council decides to abolish restrictions on consecutive terms

On the 31st, the Sports Council held the 31st Board of Directors at the Olympic Parktel in Songpa-gu, Seoul, and voted on an amendment to the articles of association that allows executives of affiliated organizations such as local sports associations and sports organizations to serve consecutive terms without restrictions.

In response, the Sports Council said, "We will promote the development of the sports world through the rational organization of sports organizations and smooth operation. In particular, we intend to solve the difficulties of the field by abolishing the two-term restriction, reflecting that sports organizations such as local sports associations and local sports organizations are not realistic due to the two-term restriction."

In addition, he stressed, "There are many candidates running (no votes) in the election for the head of the city, county, and district sports organizations, so we need to bring the chairman in," adding, "We need to open a way for people with ability, expertise, and experience to serve more."
At the same time, he cited infringement of the right to be elected for incumbent executives, restrictions on the right to vote for sportsmen, and infringement of individuals' right to pursue happiness guaranteed by the Constitution as reasons for the abolition of the two-term limit.

If the bill passes the board of directors and the general meeting of delegates scheduled to be held in July, the Sports Council will ask the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the supervisory authority, to revise the regulations.

Currently, if the head of the organization wanted to serve more than three consecutive terms, he or she had to go through deliberation by the Sports Fair Commission under the Sports Council. The FTC has approved or rejected its candidacy by comprehensively examining its international stage influence (whether an international organization executive is active), financial contribution, and whether it will strengthen the competitiveness of the event.

If the agenda is passed and approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, executives of sports associations, local sports associations, and sports organizations will be able to serve "unlimited consecutive terms."

If the two-term limit is abolished, it will open the way for long-term power of Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Sports Council, and Chung Mong-kyu, chairman of the Korea Football Association, whose term ends early next year. He has not yet announced his intention to run for the next presidential election, but it seems highly likely that he will seek a second term.

Chairman Lee Ki-heung reportedly said at the board meeting last month that there was no problem even if he was reappointed.

Chung Mong-kyu, president of the Korea Football Association, was elected as a member of the 2024 Asian Football Confederation (AFC) executive committee on the 16th, and recently, HDC, a company where he is head of, signed an official partner contract with the Korea Football Association, which is interpreted as a preliminary work for the "fourth term challenge."

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