South Korea's main sports body on Wednesday announced that one of the country's top speed skaters was accused of beating up two young teammates multiple times during overseas games in 2011, 2013 and 2016. Later, sources came forward, identifying the speed skater in question as two-time Olympic gold medalist Lee Seung-hoon.  

Sources also mentioned that Lee claimed he was just joking with the teammates and only hit them gently. However the two young skaters called Lee's actions malicious. Lee's team said they are trying to verify what really happened. Lee has made no response to the news so far.

Thirty-year-old Lee Seung-hoon has won two gold and three silver medals for South Korea at three Winter Olympics – in Vancouver, Sochi and most recently in PyeongChang.

After winning the gold medal in February, Lee and 17-year-old Chung Jae-won hugged and saluted the audience wearing the South Korean national flag. "I am supposed to call Lee 'uncle', but he has been so nice to us so it's not strange even if we call him 'brother,'" said Chung during an interview after the win. Moreover, Lee introduced the young teammates to his fans as well.

Violent scandal is not new to South Korea's speed skating team. In January, reporters accompanying President Moon Jae-in on his visit to the speed skating training camp reported that coaches were found physically punishing skaters, including slapping them in the face. Though the coaches involved were suspended, several South Korean experts disagreed on whether the actions were justified, and called them necessary for the training and development of athletes.