An Se-young’s claims: Unfair privilege or fight for fair rights?

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.

Investigation into disputes

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 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.

An Se-young kisses her gold medal after winning the Paris Olympics' women's singles final in badminton at Porte de La Chapelle Arena in Paris, Aug. 5. Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul

Rights limitations or special treatment

The core of the investigation will center on whether the outdated regulations are unjustly limiting the rights that An, as an exceptional athlete, should be entitled to or whether her demands are being perceived as calls for excessive special treatment.

She has raised four major issues: inadequate athlete management by the association, outdated training methods, economic disadvantages due to restrictions on sponsorship contracts and salary caps imposed on professional players.

One of the most controversial points is the sponsorship contracts. According to the current guidelines for managing the national team by the association, athletes must use the uniforms and equipment designated by the association during training and competitions and actively cooperate with promotional activities upon request.

Individual sponsorship contracts are limited to one, and even then, sponsorships from companies that compete with the association’s official sponsors are prohibited. This means that once an athlete becomes a national team member, their ability to secure additional sponsorships is severely restricted.

For professional players, the salary and contract terms are regulated by the Korea Business Badminton Federation.

The maximum annual salary for a first-year player is set at 60 million won ($45,000) for university graduates and 50 million won for high school graduates.

For the first three years, annual salary increases are capped at 7 percent. Contract periods are fixed at five years for university graduates and seven years for high school graduates, with signing bonuses capped at 150 million won and 100 million won, respectively.

An has expressed concern, saying, “If all players are treated the same, isn’t that a form of reverse discrimination?”

Culture, Sports and Tourism Minister Yoo In-chon speaks at a press conference at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art in Jongno District, Seoul, Monday. Courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.'

Focus on reform over blame game

The challenge lies in the fact that An’s claims could be perceived as a demand for special privileges by other athletes.

The association has highlighted this point, emphasizing that the funds and goods received from official sponsors are used to support the entire national team and junior players.

If individual sponsorship restrictions are lifted, resources may disproportionately favor certain players, reducing support for others and causing them to suffer.

However, there is little disagreement on the need to revise certain outdated rules in the national team management guidelines, such as the requirements for athletes to “obey the instructions and orders of the coach during both on-campus and off-campus training” and prohibiting “leaving the training ground or missing training without the coach’s permission.”

Sports experts stress that the current controversy should be viewed as an opportunity to address and eradicate outdated regulations within the sports community rather than descending into a blame game.

A sports industry insider said, “Instead of focusing on assigning blame between An Se-young and the association, we should use this opportunity to uproot the old-fashioned regulations that still exist in the sports world.”

An Se-young herself has said, “My intention is not to fight, but to express my desire to focus solely on my sport. I hope my statements are understood in that context.”

An Se-young arrives at Incheon International Airport, Aug. 7. Newsis

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