Ahn Se-young Sparks Controversy After Winning Gold at 2024 Paris Olympics: Critique of Korea Badminton Association Raises Eyebrows

Ahn Se-young, who won the gold medal in women’s badminton singles at the 2024 Paris Olympics, returned to Korea via Incheon Airport on the afternoon of the 7th and was interviewed by reporters. After winning the gold medal, Ahn Se-young became controversial by pointing out the absence of the Korea Badminton Association. 2024.8.7/News1 ⓒ News1 Despite the good performance of the Paris 2024 Olympics, noise in the domestic sports world continues, and this was also noted in Japan.

Japan’s Nikkan Sports reported on the 15th, “Right after the Paris Olympics, internal problems broke out in the Korean sports world.”

The media reported on the impact caused by the comments of badminton women’s gold medalist Ahn Se-young (Samsung Life Insurance) and the power game between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Korea Sports Council.

Previously, after winning the women’s badminton singles, Ahn Se-young expressed her displeasure with the Korea Badminton Association’s injury management and outdated training methods and expressed her desire to leave the national team. Accordingly, the Badminton Association also rejected Ahn Se-young’s idea, leading to a ‘truth battle’.

The media explained, “Ahn Se-young said at a press conference after winning, ‘Please pay more attention to the players,’ and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, which has jurisdiction over all sports, that they would investigate the truth.”

Lee Ki-heung, president of the Korea Sports Council, returns to Korea via Incheon International Airport on the 13th after finishing the Olympics in Paris and is waving the Korean national flag. At the 2024 Paris Olympics, Korea recorded a ‘record success’ of a total of 32 medals (13 gold, 9 silver, 10 bronze) and 8th place in the overall ranking 2024.8.13/News1 ⓒ News1

He also hinted at a smaller event for the loose ceremony that was to be held at Incheon Airport.

The Korean team returned to Korea via Incheon Airport on the 13th, and the Korea Sports Council withdrew the team after a short ceremony at the arrival hall.

In response, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism expressed dissatisfaction, saying, “The Sports Council unilaterally changed the schedule without prior warning,” and the Sports Council countered by saying, “Athlete fatigue, congestion due to movement to the venue, and safety have been taken into account.”

Nikkan Sports explained, “The Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Yoo In-chon was also welcomed, so he only took a commemorative photo as a power play between the two groups.”

(Seoul = News 1)