Controversy over "weigh-in disqualification and missed flight" — Judo's Jung Sung-sook: "It won't end with the coach's resignation" → Korea Fair Trade Commission to conduct additional investigation

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Jung Sung-sook (54), head coach of the women's Yoo Do (CEO) team, resigned after her lax management of athletes fueled controversy, but further investigations are expected to follow.

The Korea Judo Association held its 22nd Performance Enhancement Committee meeting on the 16th to deliberate and resolve matters including relief from international competition restrictions for Jung Su-jin (21, Yongin University) and whether to extend contracts with national team coaches.

An absurd incident occurred at the women's 48 kg judo event of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games held in Nagoya, Japan on the 30th of last month. Ahead of the round of 16, Jung Su-jin consumed food without knowing she was a subject for random weigh-in due to incorrect guidance from the coaching staff, resulting in disqualification for exceeding the weight limit by just 100 grams. Subsequently, the controversy escalated as Jung Su-jin exposed the coach's fault through social media (SNS).

The blame fell entirely on head coach Jung Sung-sook. This effectively squandered the precious time and opportunity of an athlete who had shed thick drops of sweat with eyes set solely on the Asian Games. The backlash grew even larger after reports emerged that she later told the athlete to quietly let the matter pass.

Head coach Jung stated, "All responsibility lies with the coach. I am sorry and feel guilty toward athlete Jung Su-jin," but refuted the athlete's side's claim that she tried to quietly hush up the controversy, stating it was not true.

However, before returning home and explaining her position in detail, head coach Jung once again faced public criticism.

During travel for the immediately following World Championships, a group including head coach Jung missed their flight while transiting at Dubai International Airport in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), leading to an absurd farce where they waited approximately nine hours before traveling on an alternative flight.

An unbelievable story circulated that she missed the flight because she was eating. In response, head coach Jung explained, "It was not due to a meal, but because I miscalculated the travel time," but this too was entirely implausible. Having already gone through a major ordeal once, criticism intensified further given that she committed another mistake stemming from carelessness.

Ultimately, after returning home via Incheon International Airport following the conclusion of the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Championships on the 13th, head coach Jung expressed her intention to resign in front of reporters, and it was confirmed that she would step down without extending her contract that day.

However, it does not appear that this will end with her departure from the coaching position. On the same day, the Korea Judo Association discussed issues regarding head coach Jung Sung-sook's negligence in athlete management at its Performance Enhancement Committee. The association decided to recommend additional investigation and action by the Sports Korea Fair Trade Commission regarding the Yeo Ja (CEO) team coaches (head coach, assistant coaches, trainers) and athletes concerning Jung Su-jin's weigh-in disqualification, subsequent suspicions of inducement and hushing up, and further, the delayed boarding for the World Championships flight.

Additionally, relief measures were established for Jung Su-jin, who became an innocent scapegoat. Since it is clear that the random weigh-in disqualification was due to the coach's fault rather than Jung Su-jin's mistake, the "six-month international competition ban" was lifted. Furthermore, it was decided to take measures to provide psychological treatment support for athlete protection through the Sports Science Institute.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original