A referee in South Korea's WK League is alleged to have made a menstruation-related remark about star player Ji So-yun during a match, sparking a wider controversy over how female players are treated in the country's football set-up. The Korea Football Association (KFA) has opened disciplinary proceedings after the incident escalated from an on-pitch dispute into public criticism of the governing body's accountability, with players' representatives calling it a serious abuse of power rather than a mere refereeing disagreement.

The incident occurred around the 31st minute of a match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall on 28 August, after Ji, a former Chelsea midfielder, appealed for a foul over rough tackles. Referee Bae Sun-young reportedly described Ji as "sensitive from the start" over the officials' radio, in a remark widely interpreted as referencing menstruation, though the KFA says the word "period" was not used, with reports suggesting the phrase "girl's day" was used instead. Ji was booked after confronting the official and throwing a water bottle; Bae denies the comment was directed at Ji, calling it a private conversation. The Korea Pro-Footballers Association has demanded Bae's expulsion and an overhaul of refereeing, while the case is now with the KFA's fair play committee, reviving memories of last year's boycott threat by the women's national team over travel and accommodation conditions ahead of the 2026 Women's Asian Cup.