A controversy has erupted in South Korean women's football following an alleged remark by referee Bae Sun-young during a WK League match on 28 August. The incident, which occurred during the Suwon FC Women v Seoul City Hall game, involved South Korea's all-time top goalscorer, Ji So-yun.
Ji appealed for a foul after what she described as repeated rough tackles. Referee Bae Sun-young is alleged to have made a remark over the officials' radio system, interpreted as referring to menstruation, after calling Ji "sensitive from the start." Ji stated she overheard the comment and was visibly upset, leading to her being shown a yellow card after confronting the official.
Following the match, Bae denied making the remark, later stating it was a private conversation. While the KFA's refereeing department said the word "period" was not used and comments were not directed at Ji, reports suggest the term "girl's day" was used. Suwon FC Women subsequently asked the Korea Women’s Football Federation and the KFA to investigate.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) has now initiated disciplinary proceedings, referring the case to its fair play committee due to the seriousness of the matter. The committee will review explanations from those involved and determine any disciplinary action. The KFA also stated it would use this incident to prevent similar events and enhance education to foster a culture of respect within the WK League.
The Korea Pro-Footballers Association (KPFA) has characterised the alleged remark as sexual harassment, calling for Bae's expulsion and a complete overhaul of the refereeing system. This controversy has also brought renewed scrutiny to the KFA's past treatment of women's football, including a threatened boycott by the women's national team in 2025 over alleged discriminatory treatment.