IOC vice-president arrested

Kim says he is the victim of a vendetta

A vice-president of the International Olympic Committee has been arrested on corruption charges in South Korea.

Kim Un-yong, 72, was put behind bars shortly after the Seoul District Court approved his pre-trial detention.

For a long time he has been South Korea's leading sports official, an opposition politician and a powerful figure across the sporting world.

He denies any wrongdoing, maintaining he is a victim of a vendetta by politicians and sports officials.

Last week, the IOC suspended Mr Kim - on the recommendation of its ethics commission - until investigations by prosecutors in South Korea and by the IOC were completed.

This was an unprecedented step, BBC sports reporter Harry Peart says.

'Fit enough for trial'

Mr Kim's arrest had been expected, but it was delayed after he collapsed and was taken to hospital for treatment.

After questioning Mr Kim for several hours on Tuesday - and initially allowing him back into hospital - prosecutors proceeded with the arrest warrant, saying he was not too ill to be tried.

One of his aides, Shin Dong-soo, said he needed "continuous medical treatment for a suspected tumour in his adrenal glands".

The charges reportedly include:

• accepting bribes from businessmen who wanted a place on the Korean Olympic Committee;

• embezzling funds from the World Taekwondo Federation - the martial arts organisation of which he was president;

• using unauthorised funds to maintain sporting links with North Korea.

Mr Kim has been questioned over the presence of more than $1m found at his home.

His office said in a statement after the arrest: "There is no right to bail in Korea so he will have to stay [in detention] until the hearing.

"He will be permitted only one visit per day to meet a maximum of three visitors and all the conversations will be stenographed."

Major figure

Kim Un-yong is one of the world's most powerful sports officials, as well as a former member of the opposition party in the National Assembly.

Last week, he resigned his seat in the National Assembly and relinquished his leadership of the World Taekwondo Federation.

Kim Un-yong was a major figure in the sports world

Mr Kim was instrumental in bringing the 1988 Olympic Games to Seoul and raising the profile of taekwondo to become a medal sport at the Sydney Olympic Games.

He was given a severe warning by the IOC following investigations into the Salt Lake City corruption scandal, but three years ago finished second in the election for the IOC presidency behind Jacques Rogge.

Last year he was elected an IOC vice president for a second term against the candidate endorsed by Dr Rogge.

But Mr Kim has political as well as sporting enemies, our correspondent says.

He is accused of putting his vice-presidential campaign ahead of his lobbying for the Pyeongchang region bid to stage the Winter Olympics in 2010.

The South Koreans narrowly lost the vote to Vancouver.