A major shock reverberated through South Korean sports when An Se-young, the world’s top-ranked women’s singles badminton player, received the "4:19 Democratic Peace Award" along with 50 million won (approximately 1.09 million baht) for courageously exposing corruption and lack of transparency within South Korea’s badminton community.
On 18 April 2026, the seventh annual award ceremony was held at the Korean Press Club. Organizers praised An Se-young’s bravery in revealing the problematic management system, including neglect of national team athletes’ injuries and the coercion of athletes to use sponsor products, which directly affected their rights and welfare.
Previously, the 22-year-old shuttler gained global acclaim by winning the women’s singles gold medal at the 2024 Olympic Games, which amplified the weight and public attention of her voice.
After receiving the award, An Se-young said, “This award is not just a personal achievement, but the result of effort and encouragement from everyone supporting me. What kept me standing during difficult times was the people who made me believe in the importance of the ‘process’ rather than just the ‘outcome.’”
The “4:19 Democratic Peace Award” was established in 2020 by the Alumni Association of the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences at Seoul National University to commemorate the April 19 Revolution, a pivotal moment in the country’s fight for democracy.
This award not only reflects An Se-young’s success on the court but also underscores the role of athletes as "voices of society" who dare to stand up and demand justice within unfair systems.