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| Hyojun Lim. February 12, 2019/News1 © News1 Reporter Min Kyung-seok |
Korean short track star and Olympic gold medalist changed their nationality because of’wrong behavior’ two years ago.
Im Hyo-jun, 25, faced a crisis of player life due to controversy over sexual harassment of his juniors, and eventually chose to naturalize in China.
Lim Hyo-joon’s agency announced through a press release on the 6th that “Im Hyo-joon has decided to naturalize to China.” It has recently undergone a special naturalization process and is expected to join the Chinese national team sooner or later.
Lim Hyo-jun won a gold medal in the men’s 1500m short track at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, and also won a bronze medal in the 500m, a vulnerable sport. In addition, Lim Hyo-jun, who won a total of six gold medals at the World Championships, was expected to be an ace in Korea, a strong short track country.
However, in June 2019, everything started to crumble because of the “prank beyond the line”. During the physical training at the Jincheon Athlete’s Village Weight Training Center, the pants of junior players were lowered to expose part of the body, leading to controversy. Im Hyo-jun said that he admitted and reflected through his agency, but the accusations did not subside.
A junior player who felt shameful reported sexual harassment, and the Korea Ice Skating Federation punished Lim Hyo-jun with a one-year suspension of qualification after a fact-finding investigation. Im Hyo-joon, dissatisfied with this, requested a reconsideration, but the Sports Fair Committee of the Korean Sports Association dismissed it.
In the end, Lim Hyo-jun also stood at the judge with a criminal charge. Im Hyo-jun, who was indicted without custody for forced harassment, was sentenced to a fine in the first trial. Although the facts were generally accepted, Lim Hyo-jun was known to have claimed that it was not a crime because he had no intention of committing harassment, and decided to appeal.
Finally, in November 2020, Im Hyo-jun seemed to be taking off the frame. At the second trial, the court canceled the court case and sentenced Lim Hyo-jun to acquittal. This is because it is judged that it is difficult to judge only Lim Hyo-jun’s behavior as sexual harassment, separating it from the jokes that the victim tried to other female players at the time and the reactions of his colleagues.
However, the case is now pending in the Supreme Court, with the prosecution’s decision to appeal again. More time is still needed for the Supreme Court’s final decision.
The agency said, “With the prolonged trial and disciplinary period of the Federation, it became difficult for Lim Hyo-jun to carry on his dream of wearing the Taegeuk mark once again after the PyeongChang Olympics and going to the Olympics.” It is largely due to the difficulties and regrets not being able to continue.”
Although he was found not guilty in the second trial, discipline may be imposed again depending on the Supreme Court’s judgment. In this case, the possibility of Lim Hyo-jun’s participation in the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics could be virtually difficult.
In a situation where the player’s life might end, Lim Hyo-jun decided to naturalize in China. In the Chinese national team, coach Kim Sun-tae, who led the Korean national team during the PyeongChang Winter Olympics, is the general manager, and Victor An (Russian and Korean name Ahn Hyun-soo) has also joined as coach.