Yoo In-chon: "Now is the right time to refine and reform sports policy"

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Begins Investigation of Korea Badminton Association Today
Director of Sports Bureau: "Focus on System Improvement... Expansion Possible"

"If we do not undergo a complete rebirth, conflicts like the one between An Se-young and the Korea Badminton Association may continue to occur."

This was a statement made by Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, as he reflected on the footsteps of the South Korean delegation at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the regular briefing of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism held on the 12th at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Seoul, he said, "The athletes have achieved results beyond their share," and added, "Now is the right time to refine and reform sports policies."

On that day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced that it would launch an investigation into the Korea Badminton Association, which became controversial following an interview with women's singles gold medalist An Se-young. The investigation will look into the circumstances related to inadequate injury management of athletes, training focused on doubles, and forced participation in competitions, as well as examine the system and the execution and operation of subsidies.

Lee Jung-woo, Director of the Sports Bureau at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and head of the investigation team, stated, "We sent an official letter to the association today. We will set up an office and start the investigation tomorrow or the day after." He added, "An Se-young, who needs rest after returning home, will be investigated with some time given," and "We plan to draw conclusions and announce the results next month."

The investigation focuses more on whether there are areas for system improvement rather than determining whose side is correct. Director Lee emphasized, "Whether we respect a process based on fairness and common sense, or sacrifice the process for result-oriented approaches as in the past, and if there are problems with existing practices, we will focus on improving the system so that young athletes can freely compete on the world stage."

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism views this investigation as an opportunity to review overall sports policies. Minister Yoo said, "This is not just about the Badminton Association, but there is a need to look at sports policies as a whole," and added, "We will clearly organize the three parts of sports: school, recreational, and elite." He explained, "The environment and athletes have changed, and those who adapted to these changes saw good results, while those who did not faced difficulties," and "I believe the government ministries should play a catalytic role."

Director Lee also stated, "Although we are starting with the Badminton Association, if similar practices and wrongdoings apply to other organizations, there is a possibility of sharing the investigation results or expanding the investigation."

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