'Chairman Kim Taek-gyu, Executive Director, Audit Resign' Vice-Chairman of Badminton 協 to Announcement of the Association's Failure to Resign Together, Apologizes, and the Self-Governing Movement is likely to be triggered in the future

Sep 13, 2024

(Youngjongdo=Yonhap News) Reporter Han Sang-gyun = Chairman of the Badminton Korea Association Kim Taek-gyu, who returned to Korea on the 7th, answers questions from reporters at Incheon International Airport. Chairman Kim, who accompanied him to the Paris Olympics, returned before the squad. 2024.8.7 xyz@yna.co.kr

(End)

In the wake of the recent "Ahn Se-young's Decisive Speech", the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's investigation revealed various irregularities and administrative insolvency of the Badminton Korea Association and Chairman Kim Taek-kyu, and voices of self-purification are in full swing inside the association.

The association's vice-chairmen issued a joint statement calling for the resignation of Chairman Kim and others.

Four of the six vice presidents of the association, including Kim Joong-soo, Choi Jeong, Shin Young-min, and Kim Young-seop, took their first action inside the association on the 13th, announcing the 「Call for the resignation of the association's executives for normalization of the Korean Badminton Association」.

In a statement, they apologized to badminton fans who were greatly disappointed by the incident, as well as to athletes and officials who were affected or hurt," he bowed first and apologized.

"Kim Joong-soo, Choi Jeong, Shin Young-min, and Kim Young-seop, vice presidents of the Korea Badminton Association, are deeply aware of the seriousness of the current situation facing the association as the executive branch of the association."The association's complacent response to Ahn Se-young's interview has recently been criticized by the government and badminton fans, which clearly shows that there are serious problems with the association's management and guidance system.", he pointed out.

The statement read "The Korean Badminton Association has been involved in a series of embezzlement and malpractice allegations involving the executive, including Chairman Kim Taek-kyu and Executive Director Kim Jong-woong, in an interim announcement of the association's investigation by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, seriously undermining the association's trust and image. In addition, the association's reputation is greatly tarnished as further revelations such as assault, verbal abuse, and abuse of power continue. This situation resulted in the association, which should take the lead in protecting and developing players, rather hurting the players and betraying the expectations and trust of badminton fans."

The vice-chairman urged self-reflection not only on Chairman Kim and Executive Director Kim, who were suspected of corruption in the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism's investigation, but also on auditor Park Gye-ok. As an auditor to monitor and correct the association's poor administration, he cannot escape responsibility for the current situation by failing to fulfill his responsibilities.

A panoramic view of the board of directors of the Badminton Korea Association. Photo courtesy of the Badminton Korea Association

The vice-chairman group "In this state, it is difficult to expect the normal operation of the association" demanded that Chairman Kim Taek-gyu, Executive Director Kim Jong-woong, and auditor Park Gye-ok resign together to normalize the association"

"Responsible action and leadership are essential to restore the trust of the association, and the joint resignation of the current leadership can be the first step."," he added.

The statement concludes that "Our Vice-Chairmen are also deeply responsible and resolved to act together because we can no longer leave this situation unattended. For the normalization of the association's operations and the development of badminton, now is the time to start changing. "The trust of the association as a whole should no longer be destroyed by individual mistakes, and everyone should act responsibly for the future of badminton in Korea. Chairman Kim Taek-kyu, Executive Director Kim Jong-woong and auditor Park Gye-ok reiterated, "We strongly ask you to make a decision for the normalization of the association."

Earlier, former chairman Shin Gye-ryun (former Democratic Party lawmaker) called for Chairman Kim's resignation on his YouTube broadcast. The vice-chairman's group also opened its doors to call for the resignation of the association's head, including Chairman Kim. As a result, it is expected that the internal self-purification movement, which calls for the resignation of the person in charge, will spread to the board of directors and the representative council in the future.

Reporter Choi Man-sik cms@sportschosun.com

cms@sportschosun.com