South Korean athlete Lee Su-min encountered a controversial circumstance at the recently concluded 2025 Incheon International Marathon, with coach Kim Wan-gi being the primary individual in the line of fire. Su-min finished the marathon as the top-placed Korean runner, following a time of 2:35:41.
What Is Lee Su-min’s Perspective on This Incident With Kim Wan-gi?
It was after Su-min crossed the finish line that the controversy erupted, as coach Wan-gi tried to tightly cover the former’s upper body with a towel. According to reports, Su-min was uncomfortable with the coach’s gesture and attempted to push the coach away, feeling intense pain in her upper body from the contact, which led to a dispute between the athlete and the coach.
Competing for the Samcheok City Hall team in Incheon, Su-min has directed immense criticism at her coach, Wan-gi, for his controversial physical contact, which she finds both unwanted and unpalatable. Even though social media has labeled this circumstance as an incident of sexual harassment, Su-min has made her stance clear that the instance and actions of the coach weren’t a healthy one.
Su-min said, “The core issue is not whether there was sexual intent. It is that I experienced severe pain from sudden, forceful physical contact right after finishing the race. I suddenly felt a very strong pull on my body from the side.”
“At that moment, I felt sharp pain in my chest and solar plexus, and even when I tried to resist, the pressure on my arm made it difficult to break away,” Su-min further added while explaining the situation at the finish line.
Further in the conversation, Su-min mentioned that she hadn’t received an apology from Wan-gi, criticizing him for not acknowledging his mistakes and for making statements without first speaking directly with her. In self-defense, coach Wan-gi stated that he covered the athlete with a towel to prevent the athlete from collapsing to the ground after a long marathon.
Su-min Expressed Content With Her Performance at the 2025 Incheon International Marathon
Su-min made her feelings known after finishing first among Korean runners at the 2025 Incheon Marathon. Overall, Romanian marathon runner Joan Chelimo Molly won the women’s competition in Incheon, clocking an impressive time of 2:22:57.
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The South Korean athlete expressed happiness with her performance, stating, “I joined this race as part of training before winter camp, and I’m happy with the good time. I will use this result as a springboard to aim for and prepare for the Asian Games.”
Notably, the 32-year-old has also clinched podium finishes at the National Sports Festival in Busan and the Gyeonggi Suwon International Half Marathon, finishing second in both events.
