Seoul: The Badminton Korea Association is facing another backlash after it was revealed that Korean badminton players, including the 2024 Paris Olympics gold medalist An Se-young, were made to appear in sponsor advertisements without compensation. The controversy has sparked widespread criticism, with many accusing the association of exploiting athletes.
According to reports, the Badminton Korea Association signed a sponsorship contract with sports brand Yonex, which included a clause requiring Korean national team badminton players to participate in promotional shoots for 14 days free of charge. Players like An Se-young, along with 20 athletes who participated in last year’s Hangzhou Asian Games and 11 players who participated in the Paris Olympics, were allegedly asked to take part in these advertisements without receiving any fees.
Specifically, An Se-young was required to participate in three photoshoots during the World Championships and took part in sponsor promotional events following the Japanese Open, all without receiving any additional compensation.
A member of the Korean National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, Jeong Yeon-wook, brought this issue to light on Oct 24, accusing the association of treating athletes like “free slaves.” Jeong criticized the association for forcing players to partake in promotional activities without their consent or proper compensation, saying, “The association is using the national team to make money, and it must stop treating athletes as if they are free labor.”
The Badminton Korea Association has defended its actions by claiming that the sponsorship funds are used to support players, covering travel and training expenses. They further asserted that players agreed to these terms when joining the national team. However, the association admitted that the policy is based on internal guidelines, prompting lawmakers to demand changes to these practices.
