[The Editors' Verdict] 'Gyeonlimangui' and the Choices of Yoon Ina

Cutting Ties with Sponsors After a Triumphant Comeback
A Personal Choice, Yet Criticism Is Inevitable
Raising the Question of 'Moral Values' Behind Athletic Excellence

Kwangho Lee, Head of Culture and Sports Team

Throughout life, humans are constantly faced with countless choices. Among them, the most difficult decisions are those that require us to weigh our own interests against our moral values. Even when we know what is right, the immediate benefits can be so great and tempting that we often justify our actions under the guise of making a 'rational choice.' There is a four-character idiom that sharply captures this aspect of human nature: 'Gyeonlimangui' (見利忘義), which means 'forgetting righteousness when faced with profit.'

This phrase came to mind recently while watching the struggles of golfer Yoon Ina on the LPGA Tour. In July 2022, Yoon Ina belatedly reported an incident of playing the wrong ball during a domestic tournament, resulting in a severe three-year suspension from both the Korea Golf Association (KGA) and the Korea Ladies Professional Golf Association (KLPGA). It was a punishment so serious that it could have effectively ended her career as a professional golfer.

After her suspension was reduced, she returned to competition after a year and a half, and within less than six months of her comeback, she achieved remarkable results on the KLPGA Tour. She swept three major awards?Player of the Year, Money Leader, and Lowest Scoring Average. Judging by her performance alone, it was a truly astonishing return.

However, behind these dazzling achievements lies a significant question mark. During her suspension, her sponsor HiteJinro and management company Crowning could have terminated their contracts, but they chose to stand by her until the end. They waited for her return and spared no support. This was a true display of loyalty in the midst of crisis.

Nevertheless, just six months after her comeback, Yoon Ina ended her relationships with both her sponsor and management company. She parted ways with them, changed all her golf equipment, and announced her intention to join the LPGA. Of course, it is understandable for an athlete to pursue bigger stages. However, the entire process was carried out unilaterally, with no consideration for the emotional bonds with those who had supported her, which left much to be desired.

Such a decision is difficult to defend against criticism of 'Gyeonlimangui.' While Yoon Ina tried to silence criticism with her talent, moral answers cannot be found through ability alone. The attitude displayed during times of crisis and the relationships with those who stood by her are what truly reveal the character of an athlete.

The KLPGA also reduced Yoon Ina's suspension, highly valuing her talent and expecting her to be part of the future of the domestic tour. However, her decision to immediately pursue the LPGA after her return could be seen as a betrayal of the association's trust. In the end, the KLPGA compromised some of its principles for the sake of popularity, while the athlete prioritized her personal interests.

In sports, results matter, but the process is equally important. Fans do not support athletes based solely on wins and losses or statistics. They look for true sportsmanship in the choices made during crises, relationships with colleagues, and attitudes displayed. It is worth reflecting on whether Yoon Ina's choices truly embodied the loyalty that fans expected.

No one can deny Yoon Ina's exceptional talent. However, a true champion is respected not only for performance on the course but also for conduct off it. 'Gyeonlimangui' is not merely a word of criticism. Through its meaning, we are reminded to reconsider which choices lead to a life without regrets. Yoon Ina's decision prompts us once again to ask ourselves, 'What is the right thing to do?'