Jayce
Following An Seyoung’s gold medal win in women’s singles at the Paris Olympics, she has accused the Korean national team and the Korean Badminton Association of longstanding unfair practices and outdated customs, even threatening to leave the national team. In response, Korean Badminton Association President Kim Hak-kyun has indicated that they will address An’s concerns.
During an interview on the opening day of the Super 500 Korean Open, Kim Hak-kyun stated that the association would thoroughly discuss An Seyoung’s complaints. He also mentioned the need to eliminate old practices, including those related to national team selection, sponsorship, and contract terms, aiming to make the athletes’ experience within the national team more comfortable.
Kim Hak-kyun highlighted the strict regulations regarding personal sponsorships and contract terms for high school graduates, which include a 7-year contract, a salary cap of 50 million Korean won in the first year, and an annual salary increase not exceeding 7% up to the third year.
Regarding these stringent sponsorship and salary regulations, Kim Hak-kyun noted that any changes would need to align with trends in other sports, stating, “This is not something I can decide alone. We need to reach an agreement with the National Assembly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and the Korean Sports Council. Once a consensus is reached on system improvements, we will make revisions.”
South Korean media pointed out that Kim Hak-kyun, who comes from a grassroots sports background, claimed that elite sports figures dominate the association’s affairs. “They hold the majority in the board of directors, which has blinded me. My opinions are not adopted during board meetings.”
Kim Hak-kyun defended himself against the label of “incompetent president,” stating that the “elite sports figures” within the association are indifferent to An Seyoung’s concerns and are merely engaging in defamation, insisting that these influential figures should propose concrete solutions.
