IOC leaders have recommended that Kim Un-yong, one of the highest-ranking officials in the Olympic movement, be expelled from the organisation in connection with corruption charges in South Korea.

Kim, who has been under suspension as an IOC vice president since last year, should be permanently kicked out of the International Olympic Committee for unethical conduct, the IOC executive board said on Thursday.

The board acted on the recommendation of the IOC ethics commission. A final decision goes to the full IOC general assembly, which meets in July in Singapore. A two-thirds vote of the 100-plus members is required for expulsion.

IOC president Jacques Rogge has a "zero tolerance" policy on ethical misconduct.

Kim, who finished second to Rogge in the IOC presidential election in 2001, was suspended from all of his IOC posts a year ago after his arrest on embezzlement and bribery charges in Korea. South Korea's Supreme Court upheld his two-year prison term last month, clearing the way for the IOC to consider expulsion.

Kim, 73, has maintained his innocence and called the charges politically motivated. His daughter, Helen Kim, sent a letter to Rogge last month urging the IOC to act "in fairness" and maintain his IOC membership.

The IOC board has already proposed the expulsion of Bulgarian member Ivan Slavkov, who was implicated last year in an undercover BBC program on alleged corruption in the host city bidding process. His vote will also come in July in Singapore.

Ten IOC members resigned or were expelled in 1999 in the Salt Lake City scandal. Kim received a severe warning in that case.

Kim was convicted of embezzling from the World Taekwondo Federation, the World Taekwondo Headquarters and other sports organisations he controlled. He was also convicted of embezzling $US676,000 ($A877,922) from money donated by South Korea's Samsung Electronics Co.

The money was given to the World Taekwondo Federation and the General Association of International Sports Federations, both of which were headed by Kim. Kim was accused of using the money to help finance his IOC presidential bid.

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