Referee's Shocking Sexually Harassing Remark Halts WK League Match

A controversy has erupted after a referee made a sexually harassing remark about Ji So-yun, a star player in the women's semi-professional WK League, during a match.

During the 2026 WK League regular season match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall held at Suwon Stadium yesterday evening (August 28), the game was temporarily halted in the first half as Ji So-yun strongly protested against the officiating crew.

According to the live broadcast footage on the Korea Women's Football Federation's YouTube channel, referee Bae Seon-young issued a yellow card to Ji around the 30th minute of the first half. Ji then walked over to her team's bench and animatedly explained something to the coaching staff and team personnel.

The referee subsequently headed toward the bench area, and as she exchanged words with Suwon FC Women officials, Ji continued her protest with large gestures, appearing frustrated and aggrieved.

As Ji threw a water bottle in a fit of anger, referee Bae pulled out a red card but did not actually issue it. The match resumed after a stoppage of about four minutes.

In a post-match interview with a media outlet, Ji revealed that she protested after hearing referee Bae make a comment over the wireless headset targeting her, saying, "She's been sensitive since the beginning. Must be on her period."

Ji explained, "While I was making an appeal, she said that right next to me. When I told her, 'If you say things like that, it's grounds for disciplinary action,' she gave me a yellow card."

Referee Bae's side initially denied ever making such a remark, but as protests continued, they reportedly offered an explanation to the effect that "it was something we said among ourselves."

Due to the yellow card received in this match, Ji will be unable to play in the league game scheduled for September 2.

The Suwon FC Women club is reportedly preparing to raise an official complaint with the Korea Women's Football Federation and other bodies.

An official from the Women's Football Federation stated, "The match commissioner assessed the situation on-site, and we will review the specific details after requesting and examining the evaluator's report and the referee's report from the Korea Football Association."

A controversy has erupted after a referee made a sexually harassing remark about Ji So-yun, a star player in the women's semi-professional WK League, during a match.

During the 2026 WK League regular season match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall held at Suwon Stadium yesterday evening (August 28), the game was temporarily halted in the first half as Ji So-yun strongly protested against the officiating crew.

According to the live broadcast footage on the Korea Women's Football Federation's YouTube channel, referee Bae Seon-young issued a yellow card to Ji around the 30th minute of the first half. Ji then walked over to her team's bench and animatedly explained something to the coaching staff and team personnel.

The referee subsequently headed toward the bench area, and as she exchanged words with Suwon FC Women officials, Ji continued her protest with large gestures, appearing frustrated and aggrieved.

As Ji threw a water bottle in a fit of anger, referee Bae pulled out a red card but did not actually issue it. The match resumed after a stoppage of about four minutes.

In a post-match interview with a media outlet, Ji revealed that she protested after hearing referee Bae make a comment over the wireless headset targeting her, saying, "She's been sensitive since the beginning. Must be on her period."

Ji explained, "While I was making an appeal, she said that right next to me. When I told her, 'If you say things like that, it's grounds for disciplinary action,' she gave me a yellow card."

Referee Bae's side initially denied ever making such a remark, but as protests continued, they reportedly offered an explanation to the effect that "it was something we said among ourselves."

Due to the yellow card received in this match, Ji will be unable to play in the league game scheduled for September 2.

The Suwon FC Women club is reportedly preparing to raise an official complaint with the Korea Women's Football Federation and other bodies.

An official from the Women's Football Federation stated, "The match commissioner assessed the situation on-site, and we will review the specific details after requesting and examining the evaluator's report and the referee's report from the Korea Football Association."

(Reported by Kim Jiuk | Video by Na Hong-hee | Graphics by Lee Jung-joo | Produced by SBS Digital News | Video source: YouTube 'Korea Women's Football Federation')
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.