KBO faces scrutiny over swift dismissal of executive amid misconduct allegations

The Korea Baseball Organization (KBO) is under fire for its swift decision to dismiss an executive from its subsidiary, KBOP, who is facing a severe disciplinary recommendation for workplace harassment. The move has drawn criticism for potentially violating legal procedures and overlooking the principle of presumed innocence.

KBOP, responsible for KBO's revenue-generating activities like broadcast rights sales, initiated the dismissal process for its CEO, identified as M. The executive had already submitted his resignation on the 12th after the Sports Ethics Center recommended severe disciplinary action. However, the KBO decided to proceed with a dismissal rather than accept the resignation, a decision that has raised eyebrows.

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I am so intoxicated by popularity.

According to the National Sports Promotion Act, sports organizations like the KBO are required to hold their own disciplinary hearings after receiving recommendations from the Sports Ethics Center and report the outcomes to the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. However, the Sports Ethics Center had not yet formally sent its findings to the KBO when the dismissal process was initiated. This has led some to argue that the KBO is circumventing proper procedures and potentially disregarding the principle of presumed innocence.

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The KBO must decide the fate of the previous representative before appointing a new KBOP representative.

Adding to the controversy, the KBO executive facing dismissal and the KBO's Secretary General, Park Geun-chan, are reportedly entering their current positions as colleagues from the same KBO intake year. This situation has fueled speculation about internal politics and potential cronyism, especially as KBO President Heo Gu-yeon's term is nearing its end, a period often associated with personnel reshuffling and reward distribution.

The KBO has defended its actions, stating that the absence of the KBOP CEO would disrupt critical broadcast rights negotiations. They also claim that M expressed his intention to resign, necessitating the appointment of a new representative. The organization maintains that formal procedures will be followed once the official communication from the Sports Ethics Center is received, assuring that the decision-making process will not be prolonged.

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Once the official document arrives from the Sports Ethics Center, we will proceed with the official procedures and make a decision regarding Mr. M. This decision will not take long.