"Gold Medal Celebration Menu is Kimchi Jjigae"... Volleyball Neglect Controversy Summoned by An Se-young

Kim Yeon-koung Pays Dinner Expenses Out of Pocket Due to Volleyball Association Neglect
"I Will Talk About Everything When I Go to Korea" Ahn Se-young Heads Home

Se-young An, the gold medalist in women's singles badminton at the 2024 Paris Olympics, made remarks suggesting conflicts with the Badminton Korea Association and the national team, causing a stir. Amid this, past controversies involving the Korea Volleyball Association have been brought back into the spotlight. On the 6th, various online communities mentioned the 2014 Kimchi Stew dinner incident involving the Korea Volleyball Association. At that time, despite the poor conditions, the Korean women's volleyball team won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games, but the Volleyball Association took them to a kimchi stew restaurant for a team dinner, sparking a 'neglect controversy.'

On the 6th, various online communities mentioned the Kimchi Stew Dinner incident involving the Korea Volleyball Association that occurred in 2014. At that time, the South Korean women's volleyball team won the gold medal at the 2014 Asian Games despite difficult conditions, but the Volleyball Association took them to a kimchi stew restaurant for a dinner, which sparked controversy over poor treatment.
[Photo by online community]

The Volleyball Association organized the dinner under the pretext of consoling the players for their hard work after winning the gold medal. They took the players to a kimchi stew restaurant, but seeing this, Kim Yeon-koung spent her own money to take her teammates to a high-end restaurant and treated them, an anecdote that has been shared.

Later, when the women's volleyball team participated in the 2016 Rio Olympics, there was also controversy over insufficient support. At that time, Seo Byung-moon, the president of the Volleyball Association, apologized belatedly. He said, "It was wrong to have a kimchi stew dinner after the Asian Games," adding, "Nutrition is very important for athletes. Especially feeding kimchi stew to the winning team is something I cannot forgive even from my perspective."

Netizens reacted to the post with comments such as, "This is really harsh even when looking back," "You can feel Kim Yeon-koung's anger in the photo," "If beef is difficult, at least buy pork," and "The Korea Association really showed its class."

An Se-young, who won the gold medal in women's singles badminton at the Paris Olympics, is answering questions from the press as she departs through Charles de Gaulle Airport in France on the 6th (local time).
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, Se-young An, who brought the first Olympic gold medal in women's singles badminton to Korea in 28 years, made pointed remarks seemingly targeting the Badminton Korea Association and the national team right after defeating He Bingjiao (China) in the final held on the 5th. She said, "I was disappointed with the national team for taking my injury too lightly. After this moment, I thought it might be difficult to continue with the national team." Since then, An has continued to make candid remarks about the national team’s management system and player protection methods through official press conferences and various interviews. The Badminton Korea Association has yet to release an official statement.

Amid this, on the 6th (local time), Se-young An, who visited Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport to return to Korea, met with reporters at the airport and said, "I will explain everything once I get back to Korea," adding, "Please wait a little longer." She also said, "Many players should be congratulated, but it seems like they are not being congratulated, and I am really sorry about that," adding, "That was not my intention, but it seems to be perceived that way. Players who deserve congratulations should be congratulated." This appears to refer to the badminton medalists’ press conference held earlier that morning at Korea House. The press conference was attended by mixed doubles silver medalists Won-ho Kim (Samsung Life Insurance) and Na-eun Jeong (Hwasun County Office), which also sparked controversy.