An Se-young’s Revelations Ignite Scandal in the Badminton Association

The Badminton Association is embroiled in a scandal following An Se-young’s revelations about negligence and corruption within the organization. The association’s officials, many unrelated to badminton, have been criticized for prioritizing their comfort over the athletes’ well-being, flying in business class while players flew economy. This scandal has sparked significant public outrage and calls for systemic reform in the Badminton Association.

Chilly Atmosphere in the Badminton Association

Despite producing a women’s singles Olympic gold medalist for the first time in 28 years, the atmosphere within the Badminton Association is cold. This is due to An Se-young’s explosive revelations right after winning the women’s singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics. On August 5th (local time), after her victory in the badminton women’s singles final, An Se-young stated, “It will be difficult to continue with the national team after this moment,” and expressed her disappointment with the Badminton Association’s negligence regarding her severe injury after the Hangzhou Asian Games, causing a significant stir.

Badminton Association’s Scandal

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that the officials of the Badminton Association, including the president, were involved in the selection of the national team ahead of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. The roster was unusually revised three times to achieve a generational shift before the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Six out of twenty players were replaced, reducing the number of experienced international competitors to two, and reshuffling four doubles pairs. Additionally, it was disclosed that during the same year’s World Championships, the Badminton Association sent eight officials to accompany six players. Criticism intensified when it was revealed that the players traveled in economy class while the officials flew in business class. Currently, the Badminton Association has an astonishing 40 officials, including Chairman Kim Taek-gyu.

Irrelevant Officials in the Badminton Association

As of August 7th, the current status of officials shows that Kim Taek-gyu, the 31st president of the Badminton Association, also serves as the head of Hanbit Engineering, and the vice-presidential team includes six officials. The board alone consists of about 30 members, many of whom have backgrounds seemingly unrelated to badminton, such as CEOs of fisheries, chief dentists, heads of general construction companies, and visiting professors. Despite having an extensive roster of officials comparable to large corporations, none have stepped up to take responsibility or provide explanations amid the scandal.

Public Outrage Over the Badminton Association Scandal

When this news reached the Korean community site theqoo, many netizens were outraged. They were particularly incensed by the fact that the Badminton Association’s board included around 30 members, many unrelated to badminton. Additionally, the revelation that only officials flew in business class while players flew in economy further fueled their anger. Netizens felt that people who contributed little to badminton were enjoying free tours at the expense of public taxes.

General Distrust Toward Sports Associations

Korean netizens harbor a generally poor sentiment towards sports associations, excluding the Archery Association. They believe these associations operate according to entrenched practices and are driven by a thirst for power. There is anger over the perception that parachute appointments and cronyism have been draining public funds for decades. Koreans want sports associations to be governed by systems rather than individuals.

Musinsa Standard Unveils Team Korea’s Uniforms for the Paris Olympics

Musinsa Standard unveiled the Korean national team’s uniforms for the Paris Olympics, fusing traditional Korean elements with modern style. The blue “belted suit setup” embodies youth and ambition, while the celadon porcelain pattern and “gakdae”-inspired belt add hanbok touches.

Photographer: PDPics Source: Pixabay

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