ABSTRACT
At least 10 per cent of players in Korea’s professional football league were suspected of being involved in some sort of match-fixing according to a Prosecutor’s Office investigation in 2011. The investigation was prompted by media articles in May 2011 which suggested that a professional football player’s suicide was linked to match-fixing. The resulting public shock at the suspected level of match-fixing was so great that there were discussions about discontinuing the league. Between 2011 and 2013, match-fixing cases were identified in the main sports in Korea: professional volleyball, baseball and basketball. These reports have brought the issue of match-fixing to the centre stage in Korean society. This chapter argues that the causes of match-fixing in Korea are inextricably linked to other problems in Korean society. It follows that match-fixing can only be prevented by taking into account issues facing the society as a 95whole, not just the individual. Sports must become a concept which is not limited to individual, elite players, but an activity in which all members of society can be involved. Korea modernised in a very short period of time and many Koreans accept economic growth as a key pillar of social stability and prosperity. Sport is also considered a means of increasing Korea’s international presence and prestige. Policies aim to increase the number of winning outcomes, rather than regulate the manner in which they are played. At a personal level, players are not instilled with strong sports ethics and are driven by the desire for financial success. Most of the match-fixing cases in Korea follow a similar pattern: those who run illegal private sport gambling websites or those who use these sites to make bets are usually found to be the overarching planners of match-fixing. The courts refer to these people, who pay the brokers to bribe players and receive large sums of money in return, as financiers. Financiers pay brokers to arrange the match-fixing. Brokers are most often former players who use their personal relationships (and their influence as senior alumni) to approach current players. This alumni relationship is also considered in detail in this chapter given its cultural significance in Korean match-fixing. The role of the broker is to bribe a key player (key-man) and provide a payment per game to be fixed. The key player is usually older and more skilful compared to other players. The key player uses these advantages to involve other players in the match-fixing. In the event that the other players accept the proposed match-fixing, the key player distributes amongst them the sum received from the broker. In the event that the match-fixing fails, the financier threatens the players and requires them to succeed in fixing subsequent matches. If the match-fixing succeeds, the financier and broker will provide a greater incentive and use the vulnerability of players (that they are already involved) to threaten and force players to continue match-fixing. Accused players have pleaded that their responsibility and involvement in match-fixing is on a lesser scale than that of others involved because they have been coerced into performing these actions. This defence, however, is yet to be accepted by the courts.
