Lee Su-min of Samcheok City Hall, the domestic women's winner of the 2025 Incheon International Marathon, said about the controversy over inappropriate physical contact by Coach Kim Wan-gi that she "felt intense pain but did not receive any apology from the coach."
On the 25th, Lee said on her social media (SNS), "Regarding the controversy over physical contact that occurred immediately after the finish, I will tell you what I personally experienced," and stated accordingly.
Lee said, "I have never concluded or claimed that this situation was 'sexual harassment,'" adding, "The essence of the issue is not whether there was sexual intent, but that I felt intense pain from unexpectedly strong physical contact immediately after the finish."
Lee said, "At the time, I was out of breath and in a state of mental confusion when I was suddenly grabbed very forcefully from the side," adding, "At that moment I felt sharp pain in my chest and solar plexus, and even when I resisted, my arms were pressed so tightly that I felt a sense of restraint that made it hard to break free."
Afterward, Lee said she sought out Coach Kim and clearly told him, "You pulled me too hard right after the finish, and I felt pain. That behavior was not appropriate," while also apologizing by saying, "If my instinctive act of shaking you off upset you, I am sorry."
However, Lee claimed that Coach Kim responded by deflecting without any concrete apology or acknowledgment. She added, "The coach did not apologize to me for the behavior at the center of the controversy, and since then there has been no personal or official apology or contact of any kind."
She continued, "Even during the official investigation of the incident, I was shocked to see the coach first explain that he had done nothing wrong before the inquiry," adding, "It was a very difficult and confusing experience to see someone who should protect the athlete and set things right release an explanatory document without any investigation. Even after the controversy grew, the coach never came to me to explain the situation or try to talk."
The athlete said she conveyed everything during the city hall's investigation and added, "I am still recovering after receiving a medical opinion for two weeks of treatment at a hospital due to pain and mental stress."
She also said, "Before and after the incident, some communications and instructions repeatedly placed a burden on the athletes, and there were moments when I felt pressure related to performance or contracts," adding, "I believe further investigation and review are needed regarding this."
Finally, she said, "I do not want to exaggerate or distort this matter. I only want to state accurately the pain and circumstances I actually experienced and hope that unverified criticism and speculation will not continue," adding, "I am also afraid and scared that this may somehow come back as a disadvantage to me. I am worried whether this issue will allow the team's contract renewal to proceed properly and whether I can continue my career as an athlete."
At the same time, she said, "Above all, I am sorry for causing concern to many people because such a controversy arose at a festival-like event. I will continue to work to become an athlete who grows in both performance and responsibility with a more mature attitude going forward."
In an interview with News1, Coach Kim said, "It is common for female marathoners to faint as soon as they cross the finish line. If we do not hold them, they fall and suffer serious injuries," adding, "From a viewer's perspective, the scene of holding and shaking off may lead to thoughts of 'Isn't that molestation?' but in track and field such cases are common." He explained further, "This athlete felt sudden pain in the solar plexus at that moment and said to me, 'Coach, I'm sorry.'"