Figure skater Lee Hae-in suspended for 3 years over sexual harassment dispute

Lee says the alleged victim was a boy and he regrets drinking

By KTimes

Lee Hae-in (18, Korea University), a national figure skater, was identified as the athlete who received a three-year suspension for consuming alcohol and allegedly sexually harassing an underage teammate during an overseas training session.

Although she deeply regrets drinking, she clarified that the victim was her boyfriend and denied the allegations of sexual harassment.

Lee apologized on her social media, saying: “Drinking alcohol was absolutely wrong and I am deeply reflecting on my actions.”

However, she strongly denied the allegations of sexual harassment.

“The victim was my boyfriend when we were in high school. We broke up due to our parents’ objections, but we met again during this training camp.”

She added: “I thought it was just playful behavior or an expression of affection between lovers and I never imagined it would lead to such a misunderstanding.”

Lawyer’s Statement and Background

Lee’s lawyer reportedly said the couple kept their relationship a secret this time due to her family’s opposition. The lawyer explained that their behavior may have seemed strange to those unaware of their relationship, which led to the sexual harassment controversy.

Because their relationship was secret, they did not disclose it during the initial investigation by the Korea Skating Association.

According to the Korea Skating Association, during the national team’s joint training camp in Varese, Italy, from May 15 to May 28, Lee drank alcohol in her room with friend A.

An underage teammate, B, was also present at the time. Lee allegedly engaged in conduct that made B feel uncomfortable. The union imposed a three-year suspension on Lee and a one-year suspension on A.

B, who entered the women’s dormitory, was reprimanded for violating training rules.

Lee, considered “after Kim Yun” and a silver medalist at last year’s World Championships, risks missing the 2026 Milan-Cortina d’Ampezzo Winter Olympics due to suspension.

She appealed the decision to the Korea Sports Council, the higher body of the skating association.

Her lawyer said: “We will fully explain that it was light physical contact in a romantic relationship and ask for leniency for Lee Hae-in’s mistakes.”

This is not the first sex scandal in Korean skating. In 2019, Olympic short track gold medalist Shim Suk-hee revealed years of sexual harassment and rape by her coach, Jo Jae-beom, sparking the #MeToo movement in the skating community.

This article from Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, was translated by generative artificial intelligence and edited by The Korea Times.