Kim Jung-woo expelled from ZFN after choking civilian unconscious on live broadcast

Kim Jung-woo, who applied a fighting technique to a civilian participant during a live internet broadcast and rendered him unconscious, has been expelled from the mixed martial arts organization ZFN. Police have also booked Kim Jung-woo on injury charges and are investigating. ZFN, founded by "Korean Zombie" Jung Chan-sung, announced on the 7th through its official channel that it had terminated the athlete contract with Kim Jung-woo. ZFN said, "We have determined that the conduct of the affiliated athlete during a recent controversial broadcast violated the obligation to maintain dignity under the ZFN athlete contract. We inform you that we have terminated the contract with the athlete effective immediately." It added, "ZFN will continue to apply the same standards to the speech and behavior of affiliated athletes without exception. We hope for the speedy recovery of the victim and apologize to fans for causing concern." The incident occurred during a YouTube live broadcast recently held at an officetel in Cheongna-dong, Seo-gu, Incheon. Kim Jung-woo playfully took a sparring stance with a man in his 20s who appeared on the broadcast and applied a fighting technique that chokes the opponent's neck, known as a "guillotine choke." The victim repeatedly tapped Kim Jung-woo's body with his hands to indicate surrender and a desire to stop. However, Kim Jung-woo did not release the hold immediately, and the victim eventually lost consciousness. The victim struck the back of his head hard on the cement floor while collapsing. The situation was exposed live on the broadcast. Kim Jung-woo was reported to have told the unconscious victim, "Put him to sleep." Afterwards, together with other participants, he moved the victim to one side of the broadcast location. The victim was taken to a hospital and is receiving treatment. It is reported that some parts of his body show signs of paralysis. Police have booked Kim Jung-woo without detention on injury charges and are investigating the exact circumstances of the incident. They also plan to examine whether other participants who were present at the scene were involved or aided and abetted. This incident did not occur at an event hosted by ZFN or during official training. It occurred during Kim Jung-woo's personal internet broadcasting activities. After the incident became known, ZFN judged that it constituted a violation of the obligation to maintain dignity under the contract and immediately severed ties. Kim Jung-woo, who transitioned from wrestling to mixed martial arts, used the ring name "Korean Gorilla." He was also known through some broadcasts as a former member of organized crime. Kim Jung-woo made his mixed martial arts debut against Choi Chang-jun at a ZFN event on the 22nd of last month. He lost by TKO at 3 minutes 31 seconds of the second round. The incident, which involved using a fighting technique on a civilian, occurred barely two weeks after he first stepped onto the professional stage. Kim Jung-woo became the subject of a police investigation and was immediately expelled from his organization. [OSEN]