Gyeongju City Sports Council faces disruptions after account seizure

The Gyeongju City Sports Council is facing severe operational disruptions after its bank accounts were seized due to unpaid compensation related to the death of triathlete Choi Suk-hyun.

Following a lawsuit filed by the bereaved family, the court ordered the council to pay approximately 450 million won (including interest and legal costs) for damages. As the council failed to meet the payment, the family proceeded with the seizure of its accounts. This has halted various local sports programs, including the early termination of community sports activities and the inability to pay service fees for recent events like the Cherry Blossom Marathon.

The council, which relies heavily on municipal subsidies, lacks independent revenue to cover the debt. Gyeongju City has stated it cannot provide additional subsidies to cover the compensation due to legal restrictions on the use of local government funds. Consequently, upcoming events such as the Gyeongbuk Provincial Citizens' Sports Festival are facing uncertainty, prompting the city to consider direct subsidies to affiliated sports organizations to ensure participation.