Source:EYEPRESS Images/F.L Wong
[Saba Sports News] In China’s largest badminton forum, the income of world number one women’s singles player An Se-young has sparked significant attention and become a hot topic among fans. According to South Korean media reports, An Se-young’s guaranteed annual income for 2025 could reach 4 billion Korean won.
Her income is primarily derived from three sources: first, her annual salary and bonuses from her contract with the Samsung Life club; second, prize money from participating in various events organized by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and the Korea Badminton Association; and third, advertising sponsorship revenue.
Although An Se-young made history in 2025 by winning 11 titles, her prize money has only just surpassed 1 million USD, making her the highest earner in BWF history. As a gold medalist at the Paris Olympics and the current world number one in women’s singles, she enjoys considerable popularity in South Korea. This should ideally reflect in her advertising sponsorship income, but she has turned down numerous advertising offers over the past year to focus on her performance.
Currently, apart from filming advertisements for her club, An Se-young has signed only two sponsorship contracts: one with a cooperative brand promoted by the Korea Badminton Association and another with a renowned badminton equipment manufacturer from Japan. The contract with the equipment manufacturer is valued at 10 billion Korean won over four years,making it one of the most expensive deals in the badminton industry.