The Korean Sports Council's Athlete Committee is demanding a thorough investigation into the disqualification of judo athlete Jung Soo-jin (Yongin University) at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
On October 6, the committee, led by Chairman Kim Guk-young, expressed deep concern in an official statement, urging an inquiry into the selection and confirmation process for weight checks, the communication with athletes, and the accountability of coaches.
Jung was disqualified on September 30 after exceeding the allowed weight limit of 50.4 kg by 100 grams during a random weight check before her round of 16 match in the women's 48 kg category. Initially, the incident was attributed to the athlete's failure to manage her weight. However, Jung revealed on October 4 via social media that she was misinformed by her coach about her weight check status, sparking controversy.
"On the morning of the weigh-in, the results were announced, and after confirming with my coach, I was told that only one male teammate was selected for the weigh-in, so I was not a target," Jung explained. "It was an open competition, and since I hadn't eaten since the morning, I thought quick recovery was crucial for my first match."
However, she learned she was a target for the weigh-in just minutes before it ended. "I found out I was a target only 15 minutes before the weigh-in closed. From that moment, I tried to vomit everything I had eaten, cut my hair, and run to make weight, but I couldn't make it in time, exceeding the limit by 100 grams," she said.
Jung also criticized the response from her coaches after the disqualification. "After this happened, my coach said he had nothing to say to me and that they would take responsibility when we returned to Korea, but he was busy coaching the remaining athletes," she revealed. "This morning, the coach told me that it should be quietly resolved to end it peacefully."
The Athlete Committee believes this issue cannot be viewed solely as a personal failure of the athlete. They stated, "If Jung's account is true, it cannot be seen merely as a failure of personal weight management. Accurately confirming and communicating the weigh-in status is a fundamental responsibility of the national team, as this information directly impacts an athlete's meal and hydration preparations for competition."
While the committee acknowledged that athletes also have a responsibility to confirm their weigh-in status and competition readiness, they emphasized that before holding the athlete accountable, it is essential to verify whether the coaches and the association communicated information and managed the athletes properly.
Claims that there were suggestions to "quietly resolve" the matter are also under investigation. The committee stressed, "If such statements are true, they could intimidate the athlete's ability to raise issues and exercise their rights, and should not be taken lightly."
The committee is calling for an investigation into the responsibilities of coaches and whether the athlete's rights and dignity were violated following the incident. They also urged a comprehensive review of the national team's weight management and communication systems to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
"We can no longer tolerate a structure where only the weakest athletes are blamed while those in positions of authority evade responsibility," the committee stated. "We do not deny the athlete's responsibility, but if accountability is to be assigned, it should not fall solely on the athlete."
They added, "It is fair to clarify the facts and hold the responsible parties accountable."
As the controversy escalated, the Korean Judo Association also took steps to address the situation. On October 5, they issued an official statement acknowledging the seriousness of the issues raised regarding Jung's disqualification and sincerely apologized for causing concern among judo enthusiasts and the public.
The national team is currently participating in the World Judo Championships. The association stated, "Upon the team's return, we will objectively and thoroughly verify the facts surrounding Jung and the involved coaches, and based on the findings, we will take necessary actions in accordance with relevant regulations, procedures, and principles. We will also closely examine the weigh-in confirmation and communication processes between athletes and coaches to ensure similar issues do not arise again."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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