Last Wednesday, February 7, South Korea's path to the 2023 AFC Asian Cup came to an agonizing end as they lost to Jordan. Verbal attacks against the Korea Football Association and individual players peaked after Korea lost in the quarterfinals, despite the tremendous effort put in by the football players and coaching staff. 

Many questions are raised by the public's outrage towards the Korean football squad. Malicious and nasty words have replaced constructive criticism in many social media comments. Son, the Korean team's leader, had to address these issues in multiple interviews and beg people to stop using harsh language. 

Legally speaking, what safeguards are available to us? The Criminal Act's Articles 307 and 311 protect against defamation and punish offenders with fines and sentences ranging from two to ten years in jail. However, victims have to employ attorneys and go through arduous administrative procedures as a result of the law's expansive interpretations. 

The goal of defamation law is to protect people's honor and reputation from sensitive or inaccurate material. As a result, the legislation might not be able to shield athletes from unrelated verbal abuse. Therefore, the current legal provisions would not feel like they properly protected the victims of online hate. We must move away from a society that normalizes extreme hostility and competition.

Because of the pervasive toxic masculinity culture in sports, athletes are at risk of verbal abuse. A more effective way to provide a safe workplace for individuals working in the sports sector is to bring about a fundamental shift in the culture surrounding sports. 

신시은 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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