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There have been rumors that Kim has been in the doghouse after she brushed off Park's hand during an event marking Liberation Day three months ago. Kim, the gold medalist in women's figure skating at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, denied the claims.
"Even if I was impolite, I would not have brushed off her (Park) hand," Kim told reporters after a ceremony marking her induction into South Korea's Sports Hall of Fame. "I remember everyone was moving to and fro a lot before standing in their positions on the stage. I was also not aware of the situation."
It was also rumored that Kim was picked on by government officials after she turned down the sports ministry's invitation to attend a public presentation of a government-created exercise routine in 2014. Park was at the event and performed the exercise with other celebrities.
The calisthenics project was planned by Cha Eun-taek who is a close associate of Park's confidante Choi Soon-sil. Cha, now in custody, is alleged to have used his ties with Choi and senior government officials to pocket profits.
Kim, 26, emphasized that she didn't miss the event on purpose.
"I didn't know such event existed," she said. "Since my agency controlled my schedule, I didn't know exactly about it."
Some fans have pointed out that because of Kim's past actions she was unfairly treated by the sports ministry. However, Kim showed her concern over such rumors snowballing.
"Many stories are coming out right now, but I really didn't think about it until the media reported," she said. "I'm just worried that things are getting bigger."
Koo Dong-hoe, the CEO of Kim's Seoul-based agency All That Sports, said he doesn't feel Kim was discriminated against for not participating in government or political events.
"Kim has so many appointments, so she puts priority on events related to the PyeongChang Winter Games, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and UNICEF," he said. "Kim laments the current situation, in which rumors keep snowballing and hurt other people. At this moment, Kim doesn't think she suffered any disadvantages (from her past behavior.)"
(YONHAP)
