Badminton Association with 40 Executives Including Chairman and Directors, but Zero Donations?

Dentists and Susan Representatives Also Included in Executive Team
Among Gold Medal-Winning Associations, Financial Independence Is the Lowest

Amid ongoing conflicts between An Se-young, who won the gold medal in women's singles at the Paris Olympics for the first time in 28 years, and the Korea Badminton Association, controversy has arisen as the association has nearly 40 executives.

Photo by Asia Economy

Recently, many posts on online communities have pointed out that the Korea Badminton Association has more presidents and executives than the Archery Association or the Korea Football Association. In fact, according to the Korea Badminton Association's website, the board consists of 1 president, 7 vice presidents, 30 directors, and 2 auditors, totaling 40 members. The current 31st president is Kim Taek-gyu, director of Hanbit Engineering. Among the 7 vice presidents, 2 are businesspeople. On the other hand, many executives have backgrounds seemingly unrelated to badminton. These executives include representatives such as the CEO of A Fisheries, the director of B Dental Clinic, a regional media manager, and a university adjunct professor, showcasing diverse careers.

On the 7th, Kim Taek-gyu, President of the Badminton Korea Association, answered reporters' questions at Incheon Airport upon his return to the country. President Kim, who accompanied the team to the Paris Olympics, returned earlier than the athletes.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

On the 9th, JoongAng Ilbo reported that the financial independence of the Badminton Association is the lowest among associations that have produced gold medalists. Unlike presidents and executives of other sports associations, the badminton association’s president and executives, numbering 40, donated '0 won.' One of the main sources of income for domestic sports associations is donations. It is difficult to operate an association solely on subsidies such as the National Sports Promotion Fund and local government funds. Therefore, associations receive donations from various sectors and generate business income through hosting and broadcasting competitions and sponsorships. In some sports where the association president is a conglomerate head, the association is operated with donations from the president.

However, an analysis of the budget and settlement data of 21 associations participating in the 2024 Paris Olympics shows that the financial independence of the Badminton Association was 46.73% (as of 2023). This means that less than half of the association’s total income comes from self-generated revenue rather than government subsidies. Among associations that have produced gold medalists, the Badminton Association is the only one with a financial independence rate below 50%.

Meanwhile, the executives of the Korea Badminton Association have come under national criticism as their past records have been reexamined following the controversy after An Se-young’s gold medal win. According to the budget prepared by the Badminton Association for participation in the World Championships held in China in July 2018, while coaches and players flew economy class, all executives used business class. In addition, various allegations such as neglect of player management and interference in player selection have been raised. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism stated, "After the Olympics, we will accurately ascertain the facts and review improvement measures" regarding the association’s ongoing abuses over the years.