An Se-young, who won the women’s badminton singles at the Paris Olympics, speaks to reporters after arriving at Incheon International Airport on Wednesday. Yonhap

By Baek Byung-yeul

The Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism launched an investigation into the Korean Badminton Association (BKA) on Monday after badminton player An Se-young criticized the BKA’s poor management following her victory in the women’s badminton singles at the Paris Olympics.

The Sports Ministry said an investigation team consisting of more than 10 ministry officials and investigators from the Korea Sport Ethics Center would inspect the country’s badminton association.

The team is led by Lee Jung-woo, director general of the ministry’s sports bureau. The results are expected to be announced in September.

On August 5, immediately after securing Korea’s first Olympic gold medal in women’s badminton singles in 28 years, the 22-year-old badminton player criticized the federation, saying she waited until she won the medal before speaking out because she believed her performance would give more weight to her concerns.

“I was deeply disappointed that the BKA took my knee injury so lightly, even though it was not a minor injury that required a quick recovery,” An told reporters after winning the final in Paris. “I believe that after this moment it might be difficult for me to continue with the national team.”

An also expressed his dissatisfaction with the vertical hierarchy between the association and the players and raised concerns about the structure that makes it difficult for individual athletes to obtain sponsorship.

The BKA’s guidelines for national team deployment stipulate that players must “obey” the coaches’ instructions and orders. They also require national team players to wear certain uniforms and equipment, limiting players’ ability to obtain personal sponsorship once they become part of the national team.

Following her comments, the association denied An’s allegations point by point and also clarified that media reports that a new rule had been created for the national team that targeted An were untrue. The BKA received 7.12 billion won ($5.2 million) in support from the Sports Ministry this year.

The investigation will focus on the supervision of the non-profit organisations under the Ministry’s control, with particular emphasis on administrative practices and the handling of state subsidies.

An Se-young kisses her gold medal after winning the women’s badminton singles at the Paris Olympics at the Porte de La Chapelle arena in Paris on August 5. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Sports Minister Yu In-chon said the government will initiate policy reforms in the sports sector to bring about change.

“Now is the right time to revise and reform the sports policy (after achieving good results). If we do not change now, there is a high possibility that controversy will continue to arise,” Yu told reporters during a ministry press conference in downtown Seoul on Monday.

The minister added that sports policy should be comprehensively reviewed and revised not only in badminton, but also in school sports, recreational sports and elite sports.

“The government must play a catalytic role. We plan to support every organization in its change and transformation,” Yu said.

The Ministry of Sports announced that the investigation team would examine the fairness of the BKA in selecting national teams and the efficiency of training and competition support. In addition, it would examine whether the BKA’s sponsorship contract regulations between the association and the players were balanced and whether there were inappropriate aspects in the players’ salary system.

An also plans to announce her position soon on the Sports Ministry’s launch of an investigation. Her spokesman said on a CBS radio show on Monday that she would issue a statement this week.

The Minister Director of the Ministry of Sport said: “The fundamental question of the investigation is whether the BKA is doing justice to its role towards the players.”

He added: “Not only An Se-young, but everyone should be able to voice their opinion. Listening to the players is the right attitude that the ministry and sports organizations should have.”