Women's judo national team coach resigns over mishaps

South Korea women’s national judo team coach Jung Sung-sook has offered to resign, taking responsibility for controversies involving a player’s disqualification at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and poor team management during travel to the world championships.

Jung, 54, announced her intention to step down after returning through Incheon International Airport on Tuesday following the 2026 International Judo Federation World Championships.

The controversy began in the women’s 48-kilogram event at the Asian Games.

Jung Soo-jin of Yongin University, who had been scheduled to compete, was disqualified for exceeding the weight limit after eating because she had not been properly informed by the coaching staff that she had been selected for a random weigh-in.

Jung Soo-jin later disclosed the coaching staff’s mistake on social media, prompting widespread criticism.

“All responsibility lies with the coaches. I am sorry and feel deeply apologetic toward Jung Soo-jin,” coach Jung said.

She denied, however, the athlete’s claim that the coaching staff had tried to quietly cover up the incident.

Questions over the team’s management resurfaced while traveling to the world championships.

Jung and other members of the delegation missed a connecting flight at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates and had to wait about nine hours before taking an alternative flight.

Responding to claims that the group missed the flight because they were eating, Jung said the problem was not the meal but a miscalculation of the time needed to reach the gate.

Despite the turmoil, the national team returned home with a gold medal won by Lee Hyun-ji of Yongin University in the women’s over-78-kilogram division.

The Korea Judo Association will begin formal procedures once Jung submits her resignation.

Separately, the association plans to hold an internal review and a meeting of its performance improvement committee Thursday to decide what action to take against the coaching staff. It will also continue investigating Jung Soo-jin’s weigh-in disqualification.

(This article was produced with the assistance of AI. — Ed.)