"'Igiya' Was an Ilbe Term?"... National Archery Team Member Apologizes, Says She Thought It Was Just Dialect

Sincerely Apologizing for My Careless Actions
"I Didn't Know About Ilbe or Its Meaning. I Only Knew It as a Simple Dialect Expression"

Archery national team member Si Hyun Lim. Si Hyun Lim Instagram

Olympic gold medalist and national archery team member Lim Si-hyun has issued an apology and clarification regarding her past remarks that sparked controversy over alleged far-right associations. She admitted that some of her comments were indeed careless, but emphasized that she had no idea the term "Igiya" was used on the far-right website "Ilbe Storehouse (Ilbe)," stating that she only knew it as a Gyeongsang Province dialect expression.

On September 23, Lim Si-hyun shared a photo of the bronze medal she won at the 2025 Gwangju World Championships on her social networking service (SNS) account, revealing that it was difficult to prepare for the competition while ignoring malicious comments.

Lim Si-hyun said, "Right before the match, a slip of the tongue I made in the past became a topic of controversy, and there was a lot of talk. First of all, I want to sincerely apologize to the fans who were disappointed and hurt by my careless actions," adding, "As the controversy grew, I wanted to clarify things immediately, but after discussions with the Korea Archery Association, we agreed to respond together, so I waited. However, I feel I cannot wait any longer, so I am speaking out now."

The issue began when Lim Si-hyun posted on SNS on May 22 to show off her new bow case, using the dialect phrase "Igiya." She explained that, after being informed by an acquaintance that it could be considered a mistake, she immediately deleted the post. However, about three months later, around Liberation Day on August 15, related news articles surfaced and she was inundated with malicious comments.

National archery team member Si-Hyun Lim. Si-Hyun Lim Instagram

Lim Si-hyun explained, "After realizing my mistake, I deleted the SNS story right away, so I didn't think it would become such a big issue," and added, "Is 'Igiya' really an Ilbe term? Since when did a dialect listed in the Korean dictionary become an Ilbe term? This is the first time I'm hearing about this."

She further clarified that she was not a user of Ilbe and therefore did not know "Igiya" was associated with the site; she simply mimicked the Gyeongsang Province dialect and used the phrase because she was pleased with her new bow case, with no intention behind it. Lim Si-hyun stated, "Through this incident, I learned what Ilbe is and what terms are associated with it. I also found out that the dialect I used can be used to mock others," and continued, "As someone who believes in retribution, I have neither the intention nor the desire, nor even the time, to ridicule anyone. I have always strived to bring honor to my country and will continue to do so."

She concluded, "As a representative of South Korea, I realize I should have been more careful with my words. I believe many people, not just myself, were left confused and frustrated because I did not clarify the situation right away," adding, "Despite this, I want to express my apologies and gratitude to those who trusted and waited for me."