“I was afraid to reveal my name, but now I no longer want to hide.”

You Young (20), who lost her athlete status due to a 'sexual harassment controversy' but regained it, cautiously opened up.

You Young received a one-year suspension from the Korea Skating Union (hereafter the Union) last June for taking a photo that induced sexual shame of her colleague, Lee Hae-in, during a training camp in Italy and showing it to junior male athlete A. However, she regained her athlete status when the court granted her request to suspend the disciplinary action on the 26th of last month.

The court ruled that it was difficult to conclude that You Young's act of photographing Lee Hae-in's body was an act that caused sexual humiliation or disgust, leading to its decision.

According to the previous disciplinary action, even if You Young's suspension ended in June, she would not have been able to wear the Taegeuk mark. According to the Union's national team selection regulations, athletes who receive a suspension of more than one year for misconduct related to sexual violence are excluded from national team selection.

However, with the court's decision suspending the disciplinary action, You Young is now able to challenge for a spot in the national team for the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.

On the 9th, You Young, who was contacted by OSEN, confessed her feelings about having shed the false accusations of sexual harassment.

She said, “I was anxiously waiting for the court's decision. The moment I heard the news of the ruling, I was very grateful. Most importantly, I felt relieved at the fact that I could compete as an athlete again. I was also happy that I could challenge myself again on the stage I dreamed of.”

You Young had to endure a difficult time until the judgment was made. She shared, “After struggling to return to the national team following the 2022 Beijing Olympics, it was extremely painful to be unable to compete as an athlete due to the suspension. Sponsorship support also came to a halt, and I managed to get by doing various part-time jobs. I think I was able to keep going thanks to the fans' support.”

During that time, You Young was exposed to the media not by her real name but as the 'anonymous athlete' who took photos of Lee Hae-in's body.

You Young honestly stated, “As a woman, I was afraid to reveal my name in relation to an unpleasant incident,” and added, “I thought that I should no longer hide and tell my story myself. The fans sent so many supportive messages, and the court confirmed that I did not commit sexual harassment, which gave me the courage to participate in this interview.”

The court's ruling in favor of You Young was significantly influenced by Lee Hae-in's petition stating that 'there is no fact of sexual harassment.'

Lee Hae-in wrote in part of a lengthy petition, 'It is unfair for You Young to lose the opportunity to challenge for the Olympics due to misunderstandings that are not based on fact. This will set a wrong precedent for all athletes.' He also introduced attorney Kim Ga-ram, who was his legal representative, to help You Young, who could become the strongest competitor in the 2026 Olympics.

You Young expressed her gratitude, saying, “I am truly grateful to Lee Hae-in,” and clasped her hands together.

Now, You Young is focusing on her sports career. She stated, “I am aiming to participate in the challenger competition that will be held in September. I am currently practicing the short program. I am contemplating whether to rearrange the free program.”

Finally, You Young expressed her gratitude to the fans who helped her endure difficult times.

She emphasized, “I sincerely thank you for supporting someone like me who has many shortcomings. I will do my best to repay you with a good performance on the stage again.”

[OSEN]