Ssireum officials probed in embezzlement case: police

SEOUL, April 21 (Yonhap) -- Police said Tuesday they were investigating an
allegation that ranking officials of the Korea Ssireum Association (KSA), the
governing body of traditional Korean wrestling, misappropriated some of the
association's funds.
Officers at the National Police Agency's special investigation division said they
were questioning two key KSA officials after discovering in February that tens of
millions of won withdrawn from the body's account are unaccounted for.
The officers, who have kept tabs on the allegation since last December, said they
raided the KSA office in southern Seoul on Monday and confiscated the
association's 2007-2008 accounting book. KSA officials have been questioned about
where and how the money was used.
The KSA regularly holds large competitions around the country during key
traditional holidays each year. Police investigators suspect that KSA officials
may have embezzled parts of the revenue earned from regional ssireum
competitions. In addition, they are not ruling out the possibility that some of
the money embezzled was given to officials of provincial governments in return
for hosting competitions.
Ssireum, a traditional Korean sport that appears similar to Japan's sumo
wrestling, used to be very popular until the 1990s, raking in huge amounts of
money and attracting large audiences. Its popularity, however, has been dwindled
lately for various reasons.
odissy@yna.co.kr
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