As the curtain fell on the 2024 Paris Olympics, the spotlight quickly shifted to the badminton gold medalist An Se-young of Samsung Life, signaling the start of what many are calling “An Se-young’s Era.”
The Badminton Korea Association, the Korea Sports Council and even the government, which had been waiting for the Olympics to end, are now focused on addressing the controversies brought to light by An.
Many are keenly watching to see how the ongoing debate about the badminton industry’s systemic issues will unfold.
The government was the first to take decisive action. On Monday, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism (MCST) sent an official letter to the badminton association and announced a full-scale investigation into the organization.
The investigation, anchored in the civil code and the rules governing the establishment and supervision of non-profit organizations under the ministry, will also examine the management of subsidies under the relevant laws.
The ministry’s investigation will delve into several 커뮤니티 issues raised by An in her interviews, including inadequate injury management, the emphasis on doubles training and allegations of being forced to participate in tournaments.
Additionally, the investigation will cover long-standing issues, such as systemic problems related to the association’s subsidy management and overall operations.
Lee Jung-woo, director of sports at the MCST and head of the investigation team, said, “We will start with the association, and as An Se-young needs to rest after her return to Korea, we will take our time with her investigation. The results are expected to be announced in September.”
As the government moves swiftly, the Badminton Association and the Korea Sports Council are also expected to form fact-finding committees and respond within this week.