Korean soccer players suspended for 1 game, fined W15m for allegedly racist comments
이 글자크기로 변경됩니다.
(예시) 가장 빠른 뉴스가 있고 다양한 정보, 쌍방향 소통이 숨쉬는 다음뉴스를 만나보세요. 다음뉴스는 국내외 주요이슈와 실시간 속보, 문화생활 및 다양한 분야의 뉴스를 입체적으로 전달하고 있습니다.
Three Korean soccer players with Ulsan Hyundai FC were suspended for one game and fined 15 million won ($11,500) each on Thursday for posting allegedly racist comments online.
A disciplinary committee under the Korea Professional Football League announced their decision to punish Ulsan defender Lee Myung-jae and his teammates Lee Gyu-sung and Park Yong-woo for posting allegedly racist comments on social media, one of which referenced Thai player Sasalak Haiprakhon earlier this month.
This marks the first time K-League players have been punished for alleged racism since the league's launch in 1983.
Ulsan Hyundai FC was fined a separate 30 million won over the matter.
The comments in question were posted on Lee Myung-jae's Instagram page earlier this month.
In the comment section of a photo uploaded by Lee Myung-jae of himself, Lee Gyu-sung left a comment jokingly calling Lee Myung-jae a "Southeast Asian" in an apparent reference to his darker skin tone. Park Yong-woo also commented, calling Lee Myung-jae "Sasalak," referring to the Thai player.
Haiprakhon, who currently plays as a wingback for Thailand's Buriram United and the Thai national team, used to play for the K-League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2021.
The players' comments drew heavy public criticism after fans sceencaptured them and shared the images in online communities, calling them racist.
Lee Myung-jae later deleted the post, while Park issued an apology on his own Instagram page.
By Jung Min-kyung(mkjung@heraldcorp.com)
Copyright © 코리아헤럴드. 무단전재 및 재배포 금지.