Controversy Over Alleged Referee Remark Sparks Wider Debate in South Korean Women’s Football

Around the 31st minute of the WK League match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall on August 28, all-time top scorer Ji So-yun appealed for a foul after what she described as repeated rough tackles. Referee Bae Sun-young allegedly used the officials’ radio to refer to Ji as “sensitive from the start,” a comment that Ji said she heard as a reference to menstruation. Video from the game shows Ji visibly upset, confronting the referee and receiving a yellow card. She then threw a water bottle toward the Suwon bench; Bae approached, appeared to reach for a red card, but ultimately issued a second yellow. After the match, Bae denied making the remark, characterising the exchange as a private conversation among officials.

The Guardian

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced that, given the seriousness of the matter, the case would be referred to its fair-play committee in line with referee regulations. The committee is tasked with hearing explanations from those involved and determining any disciplinary action. The KFA also stated that the incident would be used as an opportunity to strengthen education and promote a culture of respect for players, referees and other participants in the WK League.

The Guardian

Ji So-yun and the Korea Pro-Footballers Association described the alleged comment as a human-rights violation and an abuse of refereeing power. The association called for Bae’s expulsion and a complete overhaul of the refereeing system, labeling the remark as sexual harassment. The KFA’s refereeing department countered that the word “period” was not used and suggested the term “girl’s day” may have been spoken instead, asserting the comments were not directed at Ji.

The Guardian

The controversy has revived scrutiny of the KFA’s treatment of women’s football. Last year, the women’s national team threatened to boycott the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup, citing discriminatory conditions such as long travel, inadequate accommodation far from training grounds, and overall unequal treatment compared with male players. The team warned it would suspend all tournament-related training if the KFA failed to address their concerns; the KFA later claimed the matter had been resolved in February.

The Guardian

With the fair-play committee’s investigation still underway, a final decision may take several weeks. Regardless of the disciplinary result, the incident has amplified calls for systemic reforms within the KFA, including improved referee education, clearer protocols for on-field conduct, and broader measures to ensure gender-equitable treatment of female athletes in South Korea.

The Guardian