Arrest warrant sought for ex-national footballer in match-fixing scandal

SEOUL, June 1 (Yonhap) -- Military prosecutors have sought a warrant to arrest a former national footballer amid a widening match-fixing scandal, officials said Wednesday.
Former national team player Kim Dong-hyun, who joined the military in 2009 to satisfy compulsory military service, is suspected of receiving tens of millions of won for participating in the match-rigging during his service.
"A military court will review the request for a warrant today," Defense Ministry spokesman Kim Min-seok told reporters. "If the warrant is issued, Sgt. Kim will be immediately arrested."
The 27-year-old ex-national footballer has served in the Korea Armed Forces Athletic Corp. and is scheduled to be discharged from the service in September. All physically fit South Korean men are required to serve at least two years in the military.
The widening match-fixing scandal has seen five active players get arrested on charges of taking money from gambling brokers and allegedly making mistakes to help their teams lose, thus helping gamblers win money by betting against their teams.
Jeong Jong-kwan, a former K-Leaguer, was found dead this week in an apparent suicide, having left a note claiming his involvement in match-fixing schemes.