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🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

7 Wins, but No Elite Stage: 14-Year-Old Boxer Denied Entry Due to Nationality

From Hankyoreh · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Claudio Hanna, a 14-year-old boxer of Filipino descent born and raised in South Korea, has a perfect record of 7 wins in 7 matches but is barred from elite competitions due to her lack of Korean nationality.
  • The Korea Boxing Association refuses Hanna's registration, citing a lack of internal consensus and a focus on nurturing national athletes, despite regulations allowing foreign athletes to register.
  • Advocates argue that denying Hanna the chance to compete hinders her development and that sports should not exclude talented individuals based on nationality, leading to a complaint filed with the National Human Rights Commission.

Claudio Hanna, a 14-year-old boxing prodigy with a perfect 7-0 record, faces a significant hurdle in her pursuit of a boxing career: her lack of South Korean nationality. Born and raised in South Korea to Filipino parents, Hanna dreams of representing the country, but the Korea Boxing Association (KBA) has repeatedly denied her athlete registration.

I like other sports, but boxing is the most fun.

— Claudio HannaDescribing her passion for boxing.

Hanna, who began boxing in elementary school and has not lost a match since her debut tournament, excels in amateur competitions. However, she is barred from elite-level tournaments, which are crucial for developing athletes, while being allowed to participate in life sports events. This restriction stems from her not holding a Korean passport, despite her deep connection to the country and her desire to compete for South Korea.

The KBA's refusal is based on internal consensus and a perceived conflict with their mission of "nurturing national athletes." This stance contradicts the association's own regulations, which permit foreign nationals to register as athletes under certain conditions, and the precedent set by other sports federations that have allowed foreign athletes to compete. For instance, Kim Wendy, a second-generation refugee from the Democratic Republic of Congo, was permitted to compete in a wrestling tournament.

I feel really good when I perform what I learned from the coach in reality.

— Claudio HannaExpressing her satisfaction with her boxing training.

Kim Jeong-woo, Hanna's coach, expressed frustration over the situation, highlighting that Hanna is losing valuable training time. He noted the difficulty for female boxers to gain experience, as the pool of athletes is smaller, making elite competitions even more critical. "We can't guarantee success as an athlete," Kim said, "but surely our society shouldn't take away even the chance to try and fail."

I definitely want to be a national representative of Korea.

— Claudio HannaStating her national aspiration.

Advocates for Hanna, including the Anseong Center for Foreign Residents Support, have filed a complaint with the National Human Rights Commission, arguing that the KBA's decision is akin to "hating strong athletes." The case underscores the complex intersection of nationality, sports regulations, and the aspirations of young athletes in South Korea.

Foreigners are not allowed.

— Korea Boxing Association officialReasoning for refusing Hanna's registration.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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