Seoul, Dec 23: International Olympic Committee (IOC) vice president Kim Un-Yong yesterday denied he was involved in any corrupt activities after prosecutors arrested a former sports official accused of bribing him.
Kim, one of South Korea's most influential sports leaders, said he was ready for the prosecution investigation which would allow him to rebut local media reports which have described him as "a corrupt figure."
"Rumours and allegations about me are not true.... I am prepared to turn myself in to the prosecution for questioning any time and to tell the truth," Kim said in a statement.
Last week, prosecutors arrested Lee Kwang-Tae, who served on the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC) from November 2000 to July 2002, for alleged corruption.
Prosecutors refused to confirm Lee's charges, but Yonhap news agency said Lee is suspected of providing 100 million won (84,170 dollars) to Kim to help win his KOC membership.



The arrest came after investigators raided Kim's home and office and seized a safe and documents.



Kim, 72, claimed there could be "trials and errors" in his past activities, but said he had "never put my personal desire before national interest even for a moment" while in office.



He also called for public support in his bid for the IOC Presidency. Kim unsuccessfully ran for the post in July. Kim, head of the World Taekwondo Federation, has been dogged by controversy at home and abroad. He was one of several IOC members implicated in a corruption investigation surrounding the 2002 Salt Lake City Winter Olympics.


Bureau Report