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Controversy has once again struck the Korean Badminton Association after it was revealed that, without prior consent, players including An Se Young were made to participate in sponsored advertisements without payment. This has sparked public outrage, with accusations of treating players as “free labor.”
After the Paris Olympics, An Se Young disclosed a series of scandals involving the Korean Badminton Association, including unfair training resource allocation and reports of bullying. She only returned to competition last week at the Denmark Open, following a two-month break.
The association’s troubles are far from over. Korean media reported that last year, the association signed a contract with a sportswear sponsor, committing national team players, including An Se Young, to promotional activities for free—without player consent.
In one year alone, An Se Young participated in multiple ads, including during last year’s Badminton World Championships and the Asian Games. Additionally, 20 players at last year’s Asian Games and 11 at the recent Paris Olympics appeared in ads, none of whom received payment.
In an interview with Chosun Net, the Korean Badminton Association argued that players signed an agreement to participate in advertisements when joining the national team. The association claims that sponsor resources, such as travel expenses and training costs, offset the lack of ad fees.
Acknowledging external criticism, the Korean Badminton Association admitted their policy is not legally mandated but rather an internal guideline. This approach has drawn the attention of parliament, with legislators calling for reform. One lawmaker emphasized, “The association should support its players, not treat them as free labor for financial gain.”
