hankyoreh

An Se-young, the winner of the Paris Olympics badminton women’s singles gold, takes questions from reporters after arriving home in Korea via Incheon International Airport on Aug. 7, 2024. (Baek So-ah/Hankyoreh)

Recent comments by badminton gold medalist An Se-young critical of the Badminton Korea Association (BKA) and its operation of the national team reflect a turning point in the country’s management of elite sports. The BKA has denied An’s allegations, and the truth has yet to be revealed, and it’ll likely be some time before the inquiry by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism reaches any conclusions.

Yet it’s going to be difficult to brush aside An’s comments as the opinion of a single individual. An’s criticisms point to violations of individuals’ rights and the lack of responsibility within team management. She also called for coaching methods that are more professional and science-based, and for an overhaul of the management that runs the Jincheon National Training Center. 

An won a gold medal in the women’s singles event at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the first Korean to do so since Bang Soo-hyun, 28 years ago. During her interview with the press, An claimed that team managers took a “lackadaisical approach to injuries among athletes,” saying such practices were “neglect disguised as freedom.” 

“I even thought that my days with the national team were nearing their end,” An added. She also expressed disappointment in being unable to play the Games without her personal trainer. 

Unlike her predecessors, An shows little hesitancy in expressing her opinions. In the past, athletes exhibited overtly nationalistic and collectivist attitudes. Phrases like “pride of the nation,” “Taegeuk Warriors,” and “glory of the fatherland” were commonly used to describe Olympians. 

Times have changed. Now, athletes focus more on individual achievements and personal pride. National systems to bring up elite athletes, including the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee and its affiliates and the Jincheon National Training Center, have been resting on their laurels with regard to their collective methods for managing and regulating athletes. It could be said that today’s times call for change.  

“I heard that Chinese athletes trained smartly, systematically. If I get a chance to compete in the next Olympics, I hope to be able to train like the Chinese did,” said Jeong Na-eun, a silver medalist in mixed doubles badminton at the Paris Olympics. Her comments appear as a call for improvements in South Korea’s training methodology.   

The facilities and conditions at the Jincheon National Training Center are world-class. The athletes residing there have the opportunity to take advantage of cutting-edge facilities and training environments to maximize their potential. However, many national teams lack sport-specific methodologies and training programs tailored to individual athletes. It’s time to think about how South Korea can train its athletes more effectively. 

Although many coaches and managers work hard, the reality is that many of these coaches lack professional expertise, scientific knowledge, and the ability to enhance their athletes through more systematic approaches. Many coaches are stuck in the past, sitting comfortably on a bed of authoritarianism. If An’s claims about her injuries being neglected and brushed under the rug are true, then there is a clear lack of communication between coaches and organization management. 

In a response statement, the BKA said, “We had no conflict with An Se-young. We gave her all the material and psychological support we could.” The BKA is funded by the Korean Sport and Olympic Committee rather than the Sports Ministry, which means it can’t pour its limited resources into specific areas. The reality is that the funding structure results in more money going to men’s doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles. When athletes compete as part of the national team, they are often unable to bring their private trainers with them. 

An’s comments are a call for structural reform in South Korea’s elite sports. We need to put our heads together and think about what those changes will be.

By Kim Chang-keum, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]