Commissioner Lee Sang-yoon, who made 'racially discriminatory remarks,' has apologized.
During the K League 1 21st round match between Jeonbuk Hyundai and Gimcheon Sangmu, Commissioner Lee Sang-yoon used expressions that caricatured a specific race while praising Jeonbuk forward Andrea Compagno (29).
The match ended with Jeonbuk winning 2-1. Compagno, who joined this season as a foreign player from Italy, scored multiple goals. This allowed Jeonbuk to gain 3 points and record 45 points (13 wins, 6 draws, 2 losses), maintaining its position at the top of the league.
In the broadcast of this match, Commissioner Lee uttered, "Italian bomber! Flat-nosed!" following Compagno's second goal. While it may have been intended to express Compagno's strength and lift the atmosphere at the scene, the statement clearly violates current broadcasting standards and contemporary sensitivities by mocking racial characteristics.
The term 'flat-nosed' has been used in Korean society to caricature or alienate races from the West in the past. The habit of exaggerating physical traits or defining specific ethnic groups as outsiders is inconsistent with the values of today's multicultural society and sports community.
Particularly, the fact that this remark was broadcasted in a highly public sports coverage is problematic. Compagno is a foreign player of Italian nationality who has established himself as a key attacker for Jeonbuk in the K League. The expressions and biased language used by some commentators in K League broadcasts, which have repeated over time, have often been employed as 'jokes' or 'devices for fun' to entertain fans. However, the racial slur 'flat-nosed' that emerged in this match is a timely anachronism that does not align with the present 2025 context.
Commissioner Lee Sang-yoon stated through his social media, "First of all, I sincerely apologize for causing discomfort with my inappropriate remarks. I have disappointed fans who were enjoying watching the soccer match on a weekend evening. I bow my head in apology. In particular, I deeply apologize to the Jeonbuk Hyundai team and Player Compagno. Additionally, I sincerely extend my apologies to all foreign players competing in the K League."
[rhdMoreover, the Commissioner noted, "This incident has led me to reflect on my language use, and I will study and contemplate more deeply the history and significance of racially discriminatory expressions, as well as the risks of words that may be carelessly spoken. I will thoroughly guard against and be cautious so that this does not happen again. To all the football fans and viewers who have been disappointed by my shortcomings, I apologize once again. In the future, I will engage with a more careful and responsible attitude. Thank you."
[Photo] Captured from Commissioner Lee Sang-yoon's social media.
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