The Korean Physical Education Association will change the rules of controversial selection of athletic chairpersons.

An official from the Korea Sports Council said, "Tomorrow (11th), the 31st Board of Directors will discuss the change of the resignation clause 90 days before the election in Article 24 of the Articles of Incorporation."

Article 24 (Chairman's Election) Article 8 of the Korean Association of Sports Association stipulates that "If an officer, including the chairman, wishes to register as a candidate, he / she shall leave the office no later than 90 days before the expiration date of the chairman's term."

The next presidential election will be held in December, but if the current rules are followed, Lee Ki-heung must resign from the chairmanship in September, 90 days before running.

Officials said, “If Chairman Lee Heung resigns according to the regulations, he will not be able to serve as the venue for the national athletic competition in October and it will be difficult to do this at the National Olympic Committee Association (ANOC) General Assembly held in Seoul in November. "We need to change this provision, which was enacted at the time of launch of the Integrated Athletic Association," he stresses.

Lee Ki-heung, chairman of the Korea Sports Council, was elected to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) as a chairman of the Korea Olympic Committee in June last year, and argues that the issue of IOC membership will be controversial if he resigns from the Korea Sports Council.

This is because the chairman of the Korea Sports Council is also serving as the chairman of the Korea Olympic Games.

Officials of the Sports Association also point out that administrative vacancy occurs at every election because the chairman and president of affiliated sports organizations are subject to the same regulations.

The amendment of the articles of association of the Korea Sports Association will be approved by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism after being approved by the delegates' meeting on the 27th following the board meeting.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, "If the change in the election of the chairman is passed through the delegates' meeting, we will decide whether to approve it compared to the regulation of the election of the head of other public institutions."

(Photo = Yonhap News)