Source: REUTERS/Andrew Couldridge
[Saba Sports News] According to Korean media reports, Olympic badminton women’s singles champion An Se-young has long been bullied within the Korean national team, even facing verbal and physical abuse. In Korean society, there is a significant emphasis on hierarchy and respect for elders, and this extends to the national team. An Se-young, a prodigious talent who joined the national team at 15, had to clean rooms for her seniors because she was the youngest. More disgustingly, she also had to wash the underwear of older male players. This bullying lasted for seven years, severely affecting her rest and training. Moreover, An Se-young was not alone; bullying of younger players by older ones is common in the Korean badminton team. The leadership of the Korean Badminton Association (KBA) turned a blind eye to these incidents and even protected the bullies. Currently, South Korea’s National Assembly is investigating KBA not only for bullying but also for alleged embezzlement and coercion regarding sponsor selection. Statistics show that An Se-young earned over 900 million won last year through salary and bonuses, but her earnings are far below those of other international players due to restrictions on accepting sponsorships freely. There has been some progress in her dispute with KBA: South Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced plans to abolish controversial regulations that prevent non-national team players from participating in international competitions and started an investigation into issues such as misappropriation of funds by KBA officials.