KUALA LUMPUR — In a decisive move to address alleged misconduct, South Korea’s Culture, Sports, and Tourism Ministry has called for the removal of Badminton Korea Association (BKA) president Kim Taek-gyu following a two-month investigation revealing multiple violations, including subsidy mismanagement and workplace harassment.
The investigation was prompted by concerns raised by badminton star An Se-young, particularly after her gold medal triumph at the 2024 Paris Olympics in August.
The ministry’s findings highlighted systematic issues within the BKA, leading to a comprehensive review of the association’s practices, particularly its management of the national team and handling of grievances.
The Korea Times reported yesterday that during a briefing, Lee Jung-woo, the director-general of the ministry’s sports bureau, asserted that Kim’s removal is essential to restore integrity within the BKA.
He announced that the ministry has referred allegations of embezzlement and breach of trust against Kim to the Songpa Police Station.
The ministry aims to reclaim approximately 9 billion won (RM28.6 million) misallocated in subsidies.
Further complicating matters for Kim, the ministry reported allegations of verbal abuse to the relevant authorities, stemming from incidents during a BKA workshop earlier this year.
In response to An’s feedback and the investigation’s findings, the ministry is implementing significant reforms to support national athletes.
These include enhanced medical services, improved living conditions at training centres, and the freedom for players to choose their healthcare providers.
Additionally, the BKA will adopt a more flexible training schedule, allowing teams to set their own practices, eliminating restrictive early morning sessions, and permitting athletes to bring personal trainers.
Sponsorship policies will also be revamped, granting players greater autonomy in choosing their equipment and displaying personal sponsor logos on their uniforms.
To ensure fairness, the selection process for national doubles players will shift to a merit-based evaluation.
“This is the BKA’s last chance to set things right,” Lee stated, emphasising that failure to adhere to the new measures could result in a complete overhaul of the association’s management.
These reforms aim to create a more supportive and equitable environment for athletes, directly addressing the grievances that prompted the investigation. — November 1, 2024