A controversy involving South Korean women’s footballer Ji So-yun and a referee has sparked a broader debate about the treatment of female players and the structure of women’s football in South Korea. The incident occurred during a WK League match between Suwon FC Women and Seoul City Hall on 28 August, around the 31st minute. Ji, a former Chelsea midfielder and South Korea’s all-time top goalscorer, appealed for a foul after feeling subjected to repeated rough tackles by the opposition. The female referee, Bae Sun-young, is alleged to have made a remark over the officials’ radio system that was interpreted as referring to menstruation, describing Ji as "sensitive from the start." Ji claims she overheard the comment, and footage from the game shows her visibly upset as she talks to the referee. Ji was shown a yellow card after confronting the official and, in frustration, threw a water bottle as she approached the Suwon bench. Bae appeared to reach for a red card before deciding against issuing one, instead showing a yellow card. After the match, Bae denied making the remark, stating it was a private conversation between match officials. The KFA’s refereeing department claimed the word "period" was not used and that the comments were not directed at Ji, though reports suggest the term "girl’s day" may have been used instead. Suwon FC Women requested the Korea Women’s Football Federation and the KFA to investigate further. The KFA has initiated disciplinary proceedings, stating it would refer the case to the fair play committee in accordance with referee regulations. The fair play committee will listen to explanations from those involved and review the incident before determining disciplinary action. The KFA also announced plans to use the incident as an opportunity to prevent similar events and strengthen education to foster respect in the WK League. The Korea Pro-Footballers Association (KPFA) described the alleged remark as a serious human rights violation and abuse of refereeing power, calling for Bae’s expulsion and a complete overhaul of the refereeing system. The controversy has revived scrutiny of the KFA’s previous treatment of women’s football. Last year, the women’s national team threatened to boycott the 2026 Women’s Asian Cup over what players described as discriminatory treatment, citing long journeys and inadequate accommodation. The KFA said the matter had been "resolved" in February, but the investigation is still ongoing, and a final decision from the fair play committee may take some time. The incident has brought long-running concerns about the treatment of female players back into focus and renewed questions about the KFA’s accountability. Many fans and players are calling for systemic changes to ensure that women’s football is treated with the same respect and resources as the men’s game, and for the KFA to take concrete steps to address the issues raised by this and past controversies.