This situation mirrors the experiences shared by Kim, 36, during a May 2023 appearance on the TVN variety show “You Quiz on the Block.” (Photo: a screenshot from tvN)
SEOUL, Aug. 19 (Korea Bizwire) – Recent revelations about badminton star An Se-young’s seven-year stint as the national team’s de facto launderer and cleaner have reignited discussions about the treatment of junior athletes in South Korean sports, bringing renewed attention to volleyball icon Kim Yeon-koung’s past comments on the issue.
An, 22, who joined the national team as a middle school student in 2017, reportedly spent years not only honing her badminton skills but also restringing seniors’ rackets, cleaning rooms, and even doing laundry for some older teammates.
This situation mirrors the experiences shared by Kim, 36, during a May 2023 appearance on the TVN variety show “You Quiz on the Block.”
Kim, one of South Korea’s most celebrated athletes, recounted her challenging days as the team’s junior member, describing a rigorous hierarchy and demanding duties that extended far beyond the volleyball court.
“It wasn’t easy,” Kim said of her early days with the national team. “There were many seniors, and the discipline was strict. I remember struggling quite a bit during that time.”
She went on to describe a system where junior players were responsible for hand-washing laundry while seniors used washing machines.
“This wasn’t something the seniors imposed; it was part of the team’s overall structure, passed down through generations,” Kim explained.
The volleyball star revealed that she eventually confronted the issue during contract negotiations, pointing out that she was spending more time on chores than playing volleyball.
“We had to wake up early to clean, and juniors were responsible for everyone’s laundry. There were mountains of it,” she recalled.
“We even had to clean before breakfast. If you overslept, you’d get scolded.”
Kim’s advocacy led to improvements, allowing players to focus more on their sport. However, the recent news about An suggests that such practices persist in other sports.
In February, An’s parents reportedly appealed to the Korea Badminton Association to address these issues.
When approached about the matter, the national team’s coaching staff allegedly responded that while they couldn’t resolve the problem immediately, they would work on gradual improvements.
Yoo Jae-suk, the show’s host, emphasized that these practices should be seen not as the fault of individual senior players but as outdated customs that need to be abolished.
“All of these old practices should disappear,” he stated.
M. H. Lee (mhlee@koreabizwire.com)
