Judo Team Mired in ‘Weigh-In Disqualification’ Scandal Misses Flight While Eating in Latest Fiasco

[Financial News] South Korea’s judo team, which sparked an absurd “weigh-in disqualification” incident at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, has now made a baffling mistake on its way to the World Championships, missing a flight while stopping to eat. The team’s inadequate management of its athletes has come under scrutiny day after day.
According to the Korea Judo Association and others on the 6th, Jeong Seong-suk, head coach of the women’s national team, and four athletes failed to board a connecting flight in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE), while traveling on the 4th to Baku, Azerbaijan, where the International Judo Federation (IJF) World Championships are being held.
After arriving at Dubai airport, they stopped to eat instead of going straight to the connecting terminal. They apparently failed to account for the long distance to the terminal and the time they would have to wait for a bus, and missed their booked flight. Meanwhile, Hwang Hee-tae, head coach of the men’s national team, and the other 11 male and female athletes made their connection without incident and continued on to Baku.
Coach Jeong and the four athletes who missed their flight spent about nine hours at Dubai airport before arriving late in Baku on an alternative flight. The Judo Association explained, “The athletes who arrived late compete in heavier weight classes, so they have about two days before the weigh-in; their participation in the competition itself is not a problem.” However, the added, unnecessary physical exertion has dealt a major blow to their conditioning after a grueling schedule with no break following the Asian Games. In fact, four weight-class events had concluded by the 5th local time, but South Korea had yet to win a medal. Some have criticized the association for not splitting the team in two given the tight schedule, but the Judo Association explained that “the athletes wanted to compete in both events.”
A series of controversies surrounding the team has erupted over just a few days. At the Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, an unprecedented incident occurred when Jeong Su-jin (Yongin University), competing in the women’s 48kg division, was disqualified after eating without knowing that she had been selected for a random additional weigh-in on the day of competition. Jeong revealed that she had eaten after trusting the coaching staff’s assurance that she was not subject to a weigh-in. She later vomited and even cut her hair in an attempt to lose weight, but exceeded the permitted weight by 100 grams and was unable to step onto the mat. The matter was also reported to the Korea Sports Ethics Center.
Regarding the successive controversies, the Korea Judo Association said, “After taking steps to ensure the team can focus on the World Championships, we plan to conduct a thorough investigation into the facts involving the coaches concerned, including the Jeong Su-jin disqualification incident, as soon as they return home,” adding, “Depending on the results of the investigation, we will take strict action in accordance with the relevant rules and procedures.”


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