Badminton association's investigation stalls as An Se-young challenges process, ministry steps in
Paris Olympic gold medalist An Se-young / Yonhap
The Badminton Korea Association's internal investigation into the controversy surrounding Paris Olympic gold medalist An Se-young has hit a dead end.
The investigation came to a virtual halt after An refused to comply with the association’s request to attend the investigation, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expanded its probe to include procedural issues and broader operational concerns within the association.
According to sources within the association and the badminton community, the investigation committee had attempted to schedule a meeting with An this week by offering multiple time slots to her team, Samsung Life Insurance. However, the team responded that it was difficult for her to attend due to scheduling conflicts.
The association held its first closed-door investigation committee meeting on Aug. 16, where they initiated the investigation by interviewing coaching staff, including national team coach Kim Hak-kyun, rather than starting with An.
The committee, comprising two internal members and three external members (two lawyers and one professor), faced criticism for its sequence of actions. Many believed that the investigation should have begun with communication with An before proceeding further.
An, who had expressed a desire to speak with the association through social media after returning from Paris earlier this year, was said to have been taken aback when the investigation commenced without her involvement.
It is understood that An sought an open and sincere dialogue rather than a formal investigation. She wanted to candidly discuss her experiences within the national team rather than be subjected to a committee-led inquiry.
A sports industry insider said, "The association completely misread the situation. An Se-young wanted to resolve issues through dialogue, but the association overreacted, trying to deflect criticism by initiating an excessive investigation."
Ultimately, An declined to attend the investigation, not due to scheduling conflicts, but because she was reluctant to participate in what she perceived as an unfair process. She believed that an investigation led by the association would not yield an impartial outcome.
The Badminton Korea Association's internal investigation committee convenes on Aug. 16 at Olympic Hall in Songpa District, Seoul, to address An Se-young's pointed remarks on the management of the association. Yonhap
Meeting with vice minister
This led her to meet with Vice Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Jang Mi-ran, a former Olympic gold medalist in weightlifting, instead of attending the association’s investigation.
According to the ministry, the two had an honest discussion about the challenges faced by national team athletes. With Vice Minister Jang showing a keen interest in An’s concerns, it is expected that the ministry’s investigation into the association will gain momentum.
As a result, the association is now unable to continue its internal investigation. Not only is An’s participation uncertain, but the association must also justify the legitimacy of the investigation committee’s formation as questioned by the ministry.
The association has stated that it intends to resume the investigation after addressing the ministry's concerns and securing An’s cooperation.
Meanwhile, the ministry is conducting its own investigation into the association, based on An’s pointed criticisms of the national team’s inadequate injury management and lack of systematic support. Additionally, the ministry plans to announce the results of an expanded investigation into operational issues within the association, including potential violations of subsidy laws, as early as next month.
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by generative AI and edited by staff of The Korea Times.