Olympic gold medalist An Se-young (22), who returned home after finishing this year’s Paris Olympics, apologized to athletes competing in the Games.

"I am most sorry for the athletes who are competing in the Olympic stage after countless efforts," An said on her social media account on August 8. "My remarks caused the moments of celebration and glory that players are eligible to enjoy to be covered by a tsunami. I sincerely apologize to them. My opinions and position will be told after the Olympic Games are over and all the athletes are congratulated enough."

An won the gold medal in the women's badminton singles at the Paris Olympics on the 5th, which is for the first time in 28 years since Bang Soo-hyun did so in the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Immediately after the medal ceremony, however, An expressed her discontent about the Badminton Korea Association (BKA)’s management of players in a mixed zone interview and an official press conference, saying, "I am very disappointed in the national team. I don't think I can be with the national team anymore."

The controversy grew to the point where the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and political circles weighed in, and the BKA refuted and explained An's remarks in a press release after the national badminton team returned to Korea on the 7th.

Upon arrival at the airport, An said "I'll talk about the details later" and rushed out of the airport. The following day, she apologized to all Korean athletes competing in the Olympics on her social media account and repeated her position that she would “talk about the controversy later.”