Ulsan imposes no further punishment for players accused of racism

Ulsan Hyundai decided on Tuesday that it will not impose any further punishment on its players disciplined by a K League disciplinary committee last week for their racist remarks.

From left: Jung Seung-hyun, Park Yong-woo, Lee Myung-jae and Lee Kyu-seong attend the K League's disciplinary meeting at the Korea Football Association House in Jongno District, central Seoul on June 22. [NEWS1]

Ulsan Hyundai decided on Tuesday that it will not impose any further punishment on its players disciplined by a K League disciplinary committee last week for their racist remarks.

Ulsan held its own disciplinary meeting for Lee Myung-jae, Lee Kyu-seong, Park Yong-woo and Jung Seung-hyun, who were handed a one-match suspension and fined 15 million won ($11,500) each — apart from Jung — for making racist remarks on Instagram.

The meeting ended with no additional disciplines for the players, and an Ulsan official said it respects the K League's decision.

The K League initially summoned the four players for a disciplinary meeting and gave three of them the punishment on Thursday last week after appearing to make fun of Southeast Asian people's skin color during an exchange on Instagram on June 11.

Jung was exempt from the punishment, as he did not make any remarks that could be construed as racist, according to the K League disciplinary committee.

The accusations of racism stem from defender Lee Myung-jae's Instagram post on June 11, which he posted to celebrate Ulsan's victory over Jeju United the day before.

The comments he exchanged with teammates Lee Kyu-seong and Park included a number of expressions that could be interpreted as racist.

"The Southeast Asian quarter is so reliable," Lee Kyu-seong commented on Lee Myung-jae's Instagram post in what was interpreted to be a reference to Lee Myung-jae's darker skin tone.

In Korea, referring to somebody with a darker skin tone as being either from Southeast Asia or from a specific Southeast Asian country is a common insult. All four of the players involved in the exchange are Korean.

Ulsan captain Jung also complimented Lee Myung-jae, but Lee Myung-jae responded: "It is all because of you, Asian Quarter."

Lee Myung-jae's comment used the name for the K League's "Asian Quarter" draw for recruiting players from outside Korea and appears to be another reference to skin color — this time to Jung's darker skin tone.

Nearly all players recruited through the Asian Quarter draw come from Southeast Asia.

Park left another comment specifically referring to Thai footballer Sasalak Haiprakhon, who played for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2021.

"Sasalak is in crazy form," Park commented, referring to Lee Myung-jae as Haiprakhon.

Although Jung was exempt from the K League's punishment, Ulsan manager Hong Myung-bo still gave him a one-match suspension last week.

All four players missed Ulsan's latest game against Daegu FC on Saturday due to the suspension.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]