Total Prize Money Reaches 1 Billion Won This Year... An Se-young Says, "I Don't Spend It on Myself, Relationships Are Stressful"

An Se-young, the world’s No. 1 ranked women’s singles badminton player, candidly discussed her injury trauma, struggles with relationships, and how she spends her prize money during a recent broadcast.
On the episode of tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block' aired on the 19th, An Se-young appeared as a guest. She began playing badminton at the age of eight and proved her top ranking by winning nine out of thirteen international tournaments she entered this year.

When Yoo Jae-suk asked about the most challenging period in her career, An Se-young pointed to the injury she sustained during the 2022 Asian Games.
She recalled, "It was tough after I got injured. I had to keep playing with the injury, which made me more sensitive and it was very difficult." She continued, "During the final against Chen Yufei at the 2022 Asian Games, I heard a sound from my knee when I jumped, and that’s when the pain started. It was the first time I had ever felt such intense pain while playing badminton." She added, "There was a rupture in my patella, and I kept wondering if I could finish the remaining sets. I was really scared."
Despite competing with the injury and winning a gold medal in Hangzhou, she overcame her injuries again to reach the top at the 2024 Summer Olympics (Paris 2024). An Se-young said, "When injuries come unexpectedly, the process of overcoming them can be very shaky. But going through that made me stronger."
She also spoke about the difficulties she faces in relationships. An Se-young admitted, "There are definitely stressful aspects. I tend to get a lot of stress from relationships." She explained, "Since I’m a singles player, I’m used to being alone. I’m always cautious about starting conversations with others and worry about taking up their time, so interacting with people is difficult for me." She added, "The only thing I’m really good at is badminton."
"I try to look confident and impressive during matches, but when I return to daily life, I feel like I can’t do anything. I often think that others aren’t interested in my story and that maybe it’s better for me to just give up," she confessed.
Regarding how she overcomes slumps, she said, "When there’s an older teammate, I sometimes talk about my play, but I find it best to work things out on my own." She continued, "I sit at the edge of my bed and ask myself, 'Why did you play like that? Why couldn’t you do better? What were you afraid of?' I rewatch the matches I lost. Watching those matches is the hardest part, but the answers are in there, so I have no choice but to watch. Only by finding the answers myself do they become truly mine, so I keep telling myself to keep going and keep challenging myself."
When asked about the pressure of maintaining her No. 1 ranking, An Se-young replied, "It’s even harder to stay at the top. I think I know what it feels like to fall, and I don’t want to experience that feeling, so it’s even more difficult to hold onto this position." She said the happiest moments are when she wins a tournament.
When it was mentioned that her total prize money for this season has reached 1 billion won, An Se-young said, "Sometimes when my teammates ask me to treat them because I earn well, I gladly do. I also buy snacks for my coach and juniors."
She said she rarely spends money on herself. "I don’t really have many things I want to buy," she said. "Recently, I changed my wallet once. I enjoy styling my younger sibling, so I dressed them up from head to toe." She added, "I feel happier when I give gifts to others."
As for her future goals, An Se-young emphasized, "I always want to consistently achieve good results." She added, "If I continue to win tournaments without getting injured, I believe I’ll eventually create another memorable chapter in my career."



hsg@fnnews.com Han Seung-gon Reporter