South Korean Supreme Court Acquits Two Iranian Athletes After 16-Month Legal Case
WANA (Oct 03) – Two Iranian athletes have been acquitted of the charges against them by South Korea’s Supreme Court after 16 months of legal proceedings and have left Seoul for Tehran, according to Iran’s embassy in South Korea.
In a statement, the embassy said it had closely followed the case and the two athletes’ situation from its earliest days and had seen them off at the airport as they returned to Iran.
The embassy said protecting the rights, dignity and interests of Iranian citizens residing or present in South Korea was among its fundamental responsibilities, adding that it would continue working to support Iranian nationals, facilitate their affairs and help resolve obstacles and difficulties they face.
It expressed hope that the return of the two athletes, after months of separation and waiting, would mark the beginning of a new period of peace, dignity and success for them.
The two Iranian track and field athletes were arrested in South Korea on May 31, 2025, over allegations involving sexual misconduct, in a case that attracted widespread attention.
At the time, two of the athletes were reportedly held in detention, while two others remained in South Korea at the discretion of the South Korean judicial authorities.
According to reports previously published by South Korean media, three members of Iran’s national track and field team — two athletes and a coach — had been arrested in the city of Gumi over allegations of sexually assaulting a South Korean woman on the sidelines of the 2025 Asian Athletics Championships.
South Korean police said at the time that the three men had met the woman at a local bar before taking her to their hotel, where the alleged assault took place. The woman filed a complaint with police, leading to the suspects’ arrest.
Rape Allegations Against Iranian Athletes Dropped in South Korea
WANA (Sep 22) – The spokesperson for the Iranian Athletics Federation, Iraj Akbarlou, overseeing the case of Iranian athletes in South Korea, has provided a detailed update following the latest court session. Details of the Latest Court Session Iraj Akbarlou explained that the most recent hearing took place last Tuesday, with the complainant present. […]
