Scandal hits Korean city's hosting of 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships

Chosen to host the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships, the south western Korean city of Gwangju's bid to host the event has been hit by scandal with city officials facing an investigation for allegedly forging the signatures of top government officials in submitting the bid proposal to swimming's international governing body.

Korea's Ministry of Culture, Sport and Tourism has asked prosecutors to launch an investigation into the allegations, saying that the National Government would withdraw its earlier promise to provide financial support for the city government to organise the event.

According to the Ministry, Gwangju's organising committee for the event forged the signatures of former Prime Minister Kim Hwang-sik and former Culture Minister Choe Kwang-sik in a document guaranteeing the National Government's financial support.

The forgery was revealed prior to FINA awarding the event during the 15th FINA World Swimming Championships (held from 20th July to 4th August in Barcelona, Spain) but the world governing body still awarded the Championships to Gwangju.

Gwangju Mayor Kang Un-tae has been criticised for having gone too far in advancing the city's bid to host the high-profile swimming event. He has apologised for the organising committee's unwarranted act, but asserted that his city deserved financial support from the National Government.

He claimed that Prime Minister Chung Hong-won promised the National Government's support for the swimming championships during a meeting with a FINA inspection team in March this year.

However, the Prime Minister's Office denied the claim, saying Prime Minister Chung simply expressed his hope for Gwangju's victory in the bidding race.

Gwangju hosting the Championships will mark the first time that they will be held in South Korea. The city, the sixth largest in South Korea, is also due to host the 2015 Summer Universiade.

Korea's hosting of major events is explored in a feature in the September/October 2013 issue of Australasian Leisure Management.

Image shows the Nambu University International Aquatics Centre, built for the 28th Summer Universiade Gwangju and the 2019 FINA World Aquatics Championships

12th September 2013 - KOREAN GOVERNMENT REVEALS PLANS TO ADD 40,000 SPORT INDUSTRY JOBS

15th October 2011 - KOREA’S EXPENSIVE SPORTING HABIT