S. Korea badminton champion becomes target of false 'Rolex deal' claim

The false claim was shared on Facebook on August 21, 2024.

"An Se-young left the association and became a Rolex model," the Korean-language post read. 

"Everyone clapped to the news that An signed a 10 billion won contract with Rolex."

An won gold for the women's singles in badminton at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games (archived link).

She made headlines after she spoke out against the Badminton Korea Association regarding its regulations that limit players to a single sponsor which does not compete with the association's official sponsors or badminton equipment suppliers (archived link).

Image

Screenshot of the misleading claim shared on Facebook. Captured November 3.

The post included a link to a report with a similar claim in its headline but did not provide further details on An's supposed contract with Rolex. 

The report discussed An's controversial comments, which prompted an internal review by the Badminton Korea Association into player sponsorship arrangements (archived link).

Similar claims were shared in posts on Facebook, social media site X and Threads.

Rolex, however, told AFP on August 28 that it had not signed a contract with An.

"Rolex Korea has not had any contact with An Se-young, and the claim lacks any basis," the company's spokesperson said.

A Badminton Korea Association spokesperson also told AFP on September 4 that there was "no truth to the claim" that An had quit the association or signed a separate deal with Rolex. 

An was still listed on the association's official website as one of its national athletes as of September 4 (archived link).

The association spokesperson clarified players were free to sign single sponsorship agreements as long as they were not direct competitors with association sponsors. 

An's official sponsor was Samsung Life Insurance, as listed on the association's website. 

As to the claim An signed a separate deal with Rolex, the Badminton Korea Association spokesperson added that "no information of such a nature has been submitted to the association."