Kim Taek-gyu, president of the Badminton Korea Association, arrives at Incheon International Airport, Aug. 7. Kim accompanied the team to the Paris Olympics and returned ahead of the athletes. Yonhap

Kim Taek-gyu, president of the Badminton Korea Association, has vowed to address and reform the unfair practices and systems within the national team that An Se-young, the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist, highlighted.

In an interview with Yonhap News on Tuesday at the World Badminton Federation (BWF) World Tour Super 500 Korea Open in Mokpo Gymnasium, South Jeolla Province, Kim said, "We need to eliminate outdated practices from the previous generation. For instance, we must revise the regulations on national team selection, sponsorships, and contracts."

He said "making the athletes' national team experience more comfortable is the top priority."

The regulations mentioned by Kim, which require revision, were precisely the issues raised by An. After winning her gold medal at the Paris Olympics, An said, "Isn't it too harsh to tell a player they can't compete in the Olympics just because they leave the national team?"

Currently, retired national team players are allowed to participate in international competitions only if they are over 27 for women and 28 for men, a rule An suggested needs changing.

She also expressed a desire for financial rewards to be more accessible through badminton, even without sponsorship deals, saying, "I hope they don't restrict sponsorships and contracts so much."

This highlights the unfairness in the current national team management guidelines, which require players to use uniforms and equipment designated by the association and to cooperate actively with promotional activities when requested.

Kim Taek-gyu, president of the Badminton Korea Association, answers questions from reporters at Incheon International Airport, Aug. 7. Yonhap

Reform depends on consensus

Additionally, the Korea Business Badminton Federation's regulations stipulate that rookie contracts for high school graduates must last seven years, with a signing bonus not exceeding 100 million won ($76,000) over that period and a first-year salary capped at 50 million won, with no more than a 7 percent annual increase until the third year.

Kim responded to these concerns, saying, "For An Se-young to say such things even after winning a gold medal, she must have harbored deep resentment. Although I don't have much time left in my term, I will do my best to reform the system. We will review all the points raised by An."

However, he also noted the need to align with other sports organizations, saying, "We must maintain consistency with the overall direction of the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee member organizations. It's not something I can decide alone," he said.

He said that whether it's through the National Assembly, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism or the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee, "if a consensus on these issues is reached, reforms should follow accordingly."

Regarding the head coach of the national team, Kim Hak-kyun, Kim said, "When leading dozens of players and coaches, you need various qualities, but perhaps there was too much personal bias. I also wonder if the team was managed with a focus solely on Olympic athletes and whether communication with the top players was truly smooth."

An Se-young, the women's singles badminton gold medalist at the Paris Olympics, waits for the start of an event celebrating the Olympic delegation at a hotel in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

Responses to other allegations

When asked about the lack of sponsorship from association executives, he said, "This can be resolved by including a clause in the association's bylaws requiring executives to contribute."

He acknowledged the lack of effort to attract external sponsorships, saying, "When I joined the association, most sponsors were already established. Now, we need to seek sponsors willing to contribute more."

Kim also addressed various allegations, including the claim that the association received an additional 30 percent of shuttlecocks through a backdoor deal when purchasing them with government funds. He explained, "These were received as sponsorship items, and at the time, we received a legal interpretation from a lawyer stating there were no issues."

Regarding allegations of receiving kickbacks from a company producing commemorative items, he denied the claims.

However, he admitted to having raised his voice at staff, saying, "I was wrong to shout. If I hurt anyone with my words, I should apologize."

He said that his efforts to manage the association were hindered by figures from the elite sports community.

"The elite sports figures covered my eyes and ears. Not once did my opinions prevail during board meetings," Kim said. "As a result, it took An Se-young's remarks for this 'incompetent president' to become aware of the players' discomfort."

He also said that the allegations against him were rooted in internal factionalism following An's outspoken comments.

"We don't have time to discuss what needs to be improved based on An Se-young's comments, yet those from the elite sports community continue to show no interest and only criticize. Instead of doing that, it's time to present alternatives," he said.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, a sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI and edited by The Korea Times.