Consecutive Pro Volleyball 'School Violence Me Too'... Public Opinion Turns Cold from Calls for Truth Investigation to Demands for Expulsion

Pro Volleyball Players Lee Jaeyoung, Lee Dayoung, Song Myeonggeun, Shim Gyeongseop Involved in School Violence Controversy
Verbal Abuse, Assault, Extortion... Victims Report Critical Surgery Injuries
Heungkuk Life "Indefinite Suspension" Disciplinary Action
"Light Punishment," "Permanent Expulsion" Criticism... Cheong Petition Also Filed

Female professional volleyball players Lee Jae-young (right) and Lee Da-young of Heungkuk Life, identified as perpetrators of school violence. Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Young-eun] The South Korean professional volleyball community is continuously engulfed in school violence controversies. Following the accusations against twin sisters Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young of Heungkuk Life, as well as Song Myung-geun and Shim Kyung-seop of OK Financial Group as perpetrators of school violence, more victims have come forward with revelations. Amid these ongoing disclosures, criticism is mounting over the clubs' lukewarm responses and unclear disciplinary measures, with public opinion demanding strict punishments such as expulsion from the volleyball community.

On the 10th, a post appeared on an online community claiming to be a victim of school violence by players Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young. Person A posted a lengthy message titled "Current volleyball players who are victims of school violence," alleging that they suffered school violence from a well-known female volleyball player about ten years ago during middle school.

Person A stated, "The perpetrators prevented me from eating food, took my money, threatened me with weapons, and inflicted physical violence. There are over 20 instances of abuse," adding, "When I refused to run errands, they brought a weapon to threaten me. If they disliked someone, they insulted their parents using derogatory terms like 'your mother and father'."

In response to the controversy, Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young admitted the facts on the same day (the 10th) and posted apologies on their respective Instagram accounts, expressing "deep remorse," before leaving the team dormitory.

However, a representative from Heungkuk Life, the twins' club, told a media outlet, "We are well aware of the demands to discipline the twin sisters regarding the school violence controversy," but added, "Currently, the two players are in very poor condition and need to stabilize their mental and physical health." They continued, "Disciplinary actions should be taken only when the players are in a mental and physical state to accept them," showing a lukewarm stance prioritizing player protection over punishment, which drew criticism.

List of players posted by C, a parent of a school violence victim, on an online community. Photo by Nate Pann capture

Three days after the twins posted their apologies, on the 13th, another victim came forward. Person B wrote on an online community, "I was so angry after reading the recent articles that I felt I could no longer stay silent," claiming, "The twins made everyone, including teammates and juniors, do the most basic chores like laundry, and they constantly ignored, cursed, and poked others."

Person B also revealed their personal information registered with the Korean Sports Council as a student athlete to prove they were part of the volleyball team at Geunyeong Middle School in Jeonju, Jeonbuk, along with the twins in 2009.

On the 14th, parents of victims who suffered school violence from the twins also joined the revelations. Person C, who claimed their child played on the Geunyeong Middle School volleyball team with the twins, mentioned the twins' mother, former volleyball player Kim Kyung-hee, saying, "At matches, it was volleyball played only by the twins while others just held their positions. I overheard Kim Kyung-hee telling her daughter (Lee Da-young) over the phone to 'pass the ball to your sister (Lee Jae-young)' in the parents' room at the venue."

Person C added, "There are multiple victims, not just one or two, but everyone is just watching each other cautiously," lamenting, "Now that these incidents have come to light socially after ten years, the memories and pain are tormenting our children again."

On the same day, another writer posted anonymously, stating, "(Senior volleyball players) forced us to 'head-butt,' and if we cried, they said they would keep making us head-butt until the basin was filled with tears. They told us to fill the basin with tears, snot, saliva, and even urine," and "I was hit in the face with a ball causing a nosebleed, and after wiping it, I was made to head-butt and run laps on the court," alleging school violence by professional female volleyball seniors without specifying the perpetrators.

Following the female volleyball players, male professional volleyball players Song Myung-geun and Shim Kyung-seop of OK Financial Group were also accused of school violence. They admitted on the 14th to assaulting teammates during middle and high school, causing surgery on sensitive areas, and announced they would not participate in the remaining games this season as a form of self-reflection. Subsequently, victims posted messages stating that the players' apologies lacked sincerity.

A petition urging the punishment of players accused of school violence in the volleyball community has been posted on the Blue House National Petition Board. Photo by Blue House National Petition Board capture

As victim revelations about school violence in volleyball continued unabated, public outrage grew, with more than four petitions posted on the Blue House's national petition board demanding the permanent expulsion of the accused players from volleyball and a thorough investigation.

One petition titled "Request for a thorough investigation and strict response to the female volleyball players' school violence incident," posted on the 12th, stated, "We can no longer stand by and watch the violence and crimes occurring in the sports world," and criticized, "Clubs and the Volleyball Federation are neglecting the issue, and KOVO has not conducted any investigation or disciplinary action at the federation level. If the school violence is true, the Volleyball Federation should permanently expel the players involved." As of 1 p.m. on the 15th, the petition had garnered over 98,000 signatures.

In response, Heungkuk Life announced on the 15th, five days after the controversy surfaced, that they would impose an indefinite suspension on Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young. In a statement, Heungkuk Life said, "Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young have admitted to and apologized for school violence during middle school," and "Given the seriousness of the matter, we have decided to impose an indefinite suspension on the players."

They added, "The two players are deeply reflecting on their actions and have apologized. During their self-reflection period, they must make every effort to heal the victims' wounds, including meeting with them personally to seek forgiveness."

This school violence incident centered around volleyball is unprecedented, and the absence of appropriate related regulations has led to criticism of the disciplinary measures.

According to Article 11 of the National Team Selection Regulations, "Players who cause social controversy due to disgraceful acts" are disqualified, but this applies only to national team selection regulations. The Korean Professional Volleyball Federation (KOVO) regulations mention only serious criminal acts and do not specifically address school violence or social controversies.

Consequently, public opinion criticizes the vague "indefinite suspension" as inadequate. Netizens have expressed negative reactions such as, "Not a disqualification but an indefinite suspension?", "It just looks like they will come back once things settle down," and "Permanent expulsion is the answer."

Meanwhile, experts emphasize the need for fundamental structural changes in the sports system, not just player discipline.

Professor Jung Yong-chul of Sogang University's Department of Sports Psychology said on YTN Radio's "Wise Radio Life" on the 15th, "(School violence) is not only an individual player's problem but also a situation where an entire team in a team sport is completely broken, so the club or association must have complex thoughts about handling this." He added, "Even understanding that, the apologies so far are difficult for the public to accept, and the gap has led to public anger and petitions."

Professor Jung continued, "Rather than just disciplining individual players, we need to re-examine the entire volleyball culture and clarify how we have treated talented players and how we have covered up their wrongdoings. More fundamental measures are necessary. It is not enough to just cut out individuals; we need to bring about comprehensive structural changes."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.