South Korea judo coach Jeong Seong-suk resigns over Asian Games weigh-in disqualification
In short
Jeong Seong-suk (정성숙), who coached South Korea's women's judo team, submitted a resignation letter on 22 October, the Korea Judo Association (대한유도회) said. The association said he took responsibility for Jeong Su-jin's (정수진) weigh-in disqualification at the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and for a delayed boarding of a flight to the world championships. The association said the letter will be accepted after procedures.
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Jeong Seong-suk (정성숙), who coached South Korea's women's judo team, submitted a resignation letter on 22 October, the Korea Judo Association (대한유도회) said. The association said he took responsibility for the weigh-in disqualification of Jeong Su-jin (정수진) and for the delayed boarding of a flight to the world championships. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News reported that the association will accept the letter after the relevant procedures. Newsis and Chosun Ilbo reported that he submitted it right after the association's evaluation meeting. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The dispute began at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. According to Yonhap, Chosun Ilbo and CBS NoCut News, Jeong Su-jin was due to compete in the women's 48kg class and was selected for a random weigh-in on the day of her event. The coaching staff, including Jeong Seong-suk, did not realise this and advised her to eat, and she was disqualified. Newsis, which identified her as being from Yongin University (용인대), added that she was due to compete in the round of 16, that the coaches told her she was not an additional weigh-in subject, and that she learned otherwise 15 minutes before the weigh-in ended. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Jeong Su-jin later gave her account on social media. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News quote her as saying that on the way back to Korea the coach told her the matter could end quietly only if it was concluded as it was, and they describe this as a claim that she was urged to cover up the matter. Newsis quotes her as saying this happened on the morning of the return. Chosun Ilbo wrote that she was effectively pressed to stay silent. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The team then had a problem travelling to Azerbaijan for the International Judo Federation world championships. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News reported that some athletes missed a connecting flight and waited hours at the airport, disrupting their conditioning. Newsis said Jeong and four athletes missed a flight at Dubai airport while eating and waited about nine hours for another. Chosun Ilbo said the group missed the flight after mistaking the boarding time. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Newsis reported that Jeong said on his return on 13 October that he would resign, and that the association said it would follow the procedure once a letter was submitted. It said he did not submit one until this became public. The association's performance committee decided on 16 October not to dismiss him but not to extend his contract, which ends on 31 October. Newsis also said an allegation was raised at a parliamentary culture, sports and tourism committee audit the previous day that Jeong tried to shift responsibility to a trainer. [ 2 ]
The evaluation meeting was held on 22 October in a meeting room at the Olympic Hall, which Yonhap and CBS NoCut News place in Seoul. Chosun Ilbo listed the attendees, including the association's president, the men's team coach and Jeong. The association said the meeting produced improvement tasks including a communication channel between the team and the association and revised weight-management and weigh-in protocols. Newsis and Chosun Ilbo listed further tasks, including adapting to international judo trends, split training camps and regular meetings for data-based coaching and video analysis. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The resignation ends a dispute over how the national team looked after its athletes at two events. The association said it will set up a communication channel with the team and revise weight-management and weigh-in protocols.
Key facts
- The Korea Judo Association said on 22 October that Jeong Seong-suk submitted a resignation letter, taking responsibility for Jeong Su-jin's weigh-in disqualification and the delayed boarding of a world championships flight. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The association held an evaluation meeting on the Asian Games and the world championships on 22 October at the Olympic Hall in Seoul. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Jeong Su-jin, due to compete in the women's 48kg class, was disqualified after a random weigh-in on the day of her event; the coaching staff, unaware she had been selected, advised her to eat. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jeong Su-jin said on social media that the coach told her the matter could end quietly only if it was left as it was. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The association said it will build a communication channel between the team and the association and revise weight-management and weigh-in protocols. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- Newsis reported that the association decided on 16 October not to dismiss Jeong but not to extend his contract, which expires on 31 October. [ 2 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The Korea Judo Association said Jeong Seong-suk submitted a resignation letter on 22 October, taking responsibility for Jeong Su-jin's weigh-in disqualification and the delayed boarding of a world championships flight. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The resignation letter is to be accepted after the relevant procedures, according to the association. [ 1 , 4 ]
- Coaching staff, including Jeong Seong-suk, did not realise Jeong Su-jin had been selected for a random weigh-in on the day of her 48kg event and advised her to eat; she was disqualified. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
- The association's evaluation meeting on 22 October produced improvement tasks including a communication channel between team and association and revised weight-management and weigh-in protocols. [ 1 , 3 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Why the team missed the connecting flight on the way to the world championships. Newsis said Jeong and four players missed the plane in Dubai while eating and waited about nine hours; Chosun Ilbo said a mistake over boarding time was behind it; Yonhap and CBS NoCut News gave no cause.
- Whether Jeong tried to shift responsibility to a trainer. Newsis reported only that the allegation was raised at a parliamentary audit the previous day; no document gives a response.
- When the coach spoke to Jeong Su-jin about ending the matter quietly. Yonhap and CBS NoCut News quote her as saying it was on the way back to Korea; Newsis quotes her as saying it was on the morning of the return.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Yonhap published the news that Jeong Seong-suk had resigned, citing the association's statement of 22 October. [ 1 ]
- Newsis reported that Jeong submitted the letter after attending the evaluation meeting. [ 2 ]
- Chosun Ilbo reported the association's announcement and the meeting's improvement tasks. [ 3 ]
- CBS NoCut News published its account on 23 October. [ 4 ]