Short Track 'Biased Refereeing' Controversy... Kim Yong-min "If People Power Party Rules, This Feeling Will Be Daily"

Deleted Amid Growing Controversy Among Netizens
Controversy Over Referee Decisions in Men's Short Track Semifinals
Two National Team Players Eliminated Due to Foul Calls
Korea Sports Council "Decided to File Complaint Considering Public Sentiment"

Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Yong-min claimed that "if the People Power Party comes to power, every day will feel like this," regarding the controversy over biased judging during the 2022 Beijing Olympic Games. / Photo by Kim Yong-min Facebook capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] Amid the social outrage reaching its peak over the controversy of 'biased judgment' in the men's 1000m short track semifinals at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, Kim Yongmin, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, claimed, "If the People Power Party comes to power, every day will feel like watching this Olympics." Kim deleted the post within 30 minutes as criticism from netizens grew.

On the 7th, Kim wrote on his Facebook, "If the People Power Party (Gukminuihim) comes to power, every day will feel like watching the China Olympics. Unfairness will become the norm." Former Minister of Justice Cho Kuk and Democratic Party member Kim Namguk also liked the post.

However, Kim's post received criticism from some netizens. They pointed out that it was inappropriate to politicize a controversy arising from an international sports event like the Olympics.

As the controversy escalated, Kim deleted the post 30 minutes after posting it and instead posted a new statement expressing "deep anger at the act of damaging the Olympic spirit and breaking the morale of the athletes through biased judgment."

Hwang Daeheon of the Korean short track speed skating national team shows a disappointed expression after being disqualified in the first heat of the men's 1000m semifinals at the Capital Indoor Stadium in Beijing, China, on the afternoon of the 7th, the third day of the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics. / Photo by Yonhap News

The biased judgment controversy arose during the short track event held at the Beijing Capital Indoor Stadium that day. National team members Hwang Daeheon (23, Gangwon Provincial Office) and Lee Junseo (22, Korea National Sport University), who competed in the men's 1000m semifinals, were all eliminated due to penalty rulings.

Hwang Daeheon, ranked second in the world in the 1000m, crossed the finish line first in the first semifinal heat but was disqualified after a video review. The referees judged that Hwang changed lanes late while moving to the front.

Regarding this judgment, SBS commentator Park Seunghui pointed out during the broadcast, "It was a play without any obstruction. The Chinese athlete lost balance alone, and rather, the Chinese player used his hand during Hwang's overtaking process."

In the second semifinal heat, another biased judgment controversy occurred. Lee Junseo crossed the finish line second, but the referees judged that he committed a foul by changing lanes while contacting Hungary's Liu Shaoang.

Keywords related to the controversy over biased Olympic judging posted on social networking services (SNS) / Photo by Twitter

Domestic netizens strongly reacted to the questionable rulings by the referees. On social media platforms (SNS) and online communities that day, posts protesting the Olympic referees with phrases like "short track," "this Olympics," and "you guys (China)" became major trends. English hashtags expressing grievances over the biased judgment flooded major SNS platforms.

In response, the Korean delegation plans to file a complaint with the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) regarding the biased judgment controversy. They also sent protest letters to the International Skating Union (ISU) and the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

The Korean Sport & Olympic Committee announced, "On the morning of the 8th at 10 a.m., an emergency press conference with the team leader will be held at the main media center," adding, "Considering the Korean athletes who have worked hard with sweat and tears and the public sentiment boiling over the biased judgment domestically, we decided to file a complaint."

They continued, "We also considered that such referee decisions cannot be supported by the international sports community, as well as the unfair and non-transparent relationships with international federations and referees. There have been repeated controversies over rulings against Korean athletes. We hope this decision will serve as an opportunity to prevent Korean athletes from suffering disadvantages again."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.