[긴급SW분석①] The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which supported Ahn Se-young’s hand, took special measures.

“If the Korea Badminton Association does not fix the problems revealed, we will take special measures such as dismissing all executives, designating a management organization, and suspending budget support other than player support.”

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) ruled in favor of Ahn Se-young, the badminton gold medalist at the 2024 Paris Olympics. At the final announcement of the results of the Badminton Association’s office inspection and auxiliary project performance inspection held at the Seoul Government Complex annex in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 31st, major improvements, including the dismissal of Chairman Kim Taek-gyu, were requested. At the same time, he also delivered a strong message, saying, “This is the last opportunity to correct the problem on our own,” and “If we do not fix it this time, we will judge it as a loss of self-correction ability and will pursue special measures.”

After winning the gold medal at the Paris Olympics on August 5, Ahn Se-young voiced criticism about the Badminton Association’s poor player management system and disappointing management method. It caused public outrage, and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism formed an investigation committee to collect and investigate related data. In this process, numerous problems of the Badminton Association were revealed through inquiries by the National Assembly Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee and inspections of government affairs. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism conducted a long-term audit of more than two months amid difficulties due to Chairman Kim’s refusal to investigate, and held a final briefing on this day.

The final announcement made by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism consists of 26 issues in 5 areas, which are largely: ▲innovation of old practices and expansion of support related to support for national teams ▲improvement of unreasonable systems that exist only in the Badminton Association and guarantee of players’ rights and interests ▲initiation of recovery process for violations of the Subsidy Act and The main focus is to request an investigation, ▲ demand correction of the association’s inappropriate operation, and ▲ report measures to relevant agencies regarding bullying in the workplace by Kim Taek-gyu, president of the Badminton Association.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism decided to request the dismissal of Chairman Kim, who was particularly suspected of misappropriation and misappropriation of sponsorship items and subsidy laws, and to request an investigative agency. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “We requested an investigation on the 29th from the Songpa Police Station, where a complaint was filed against Chairman Kim on charges of embezzlement of sponsorship items and breach of trust.” The Badminton Association’s Sports Fair Committee requested that Chairman Kim, who is directly responsible for violating the Subsidy Act, be dismissed and that the Secretary General be severely punished. Next, preliminary procedures for subsidy recovery are followed. On the 30th, we requested submission of opinions through the Korea Sports Council. Afterwards, the refund amount and additional sanctions will be finalized after deliberation by the Subsidy Illegal Supply and Demand Committee.

The existing regulation, which allowed only non-national team players who have completed five years of national team activity and are over a certain age (28 for men and 27 for women) to participate in international competitions, is also being promoted. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recommended corrections to the Badminton Association last month, but when it took a lukewarm stance, it decided to order corrections. Previously, Ahn Se-young pointed out, “I think it’s rude to not be able to participate in the Olympics just because you made the national team.”

Restrictions on national team players participating in overseas leagues or overseas invitational games at their own expense, including supporting their own teams, will also be abolished. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said, “Restrictions on players’ participation in international competitions infringe on the existing ‘right to freedom of professional exercise,’” and added, “It is prohibiting future national players from even having the opportunity to experience international competitions and improve their performance at their own expense.” He continued, “The problem that players who failed in the national team selection event made it impossible to manage world rankings was revealed after the mid-term briefing.”

If, as a result of the investigation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism determines that the association’s operation status, unreasonable system improvement, and requests for disciplinary action against officials are illegal or unreasonable, it will receive an appeal within one month. National team management support will be strengthened and violations of the subsidy law and workplace harassment will be handled in accordance with the Korea Sports Council and related laws.

Lee Jeong-woo, director of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, “I feel sorry for the athletes that we are only now announcing that we will make improvements,” and added, “If athletes in other sports also think there is a problem, please let us know at any time.”

Reporter Kim Jin-su [email protected]