Yu Ae-ja, who forced Kim Yeon-kyung to give a 'thank you message,' says about Da-yeong Lee, involved in school violence, "I want to make her my daughter-in-law"

On the 9th, Inspector Yoo Ae-ja is interviewing player Kim Yeon-kyung at Incheon International Airport.
Photo by NoCutV YouTube video capture

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoon Seul-gi] Yoo Ae-ja, the 경기 감독관 and Public Relations Committee member of the Volleyball Association, sparked controversy with a rude interview during the 2020 Tokyo Olympics women's volleyball team homecoming press conference by asking volleyball player Kim Yeon-koung awkward questions and forcing expressions of gratitude. It has now been revealed that Yoo has a close relationship with the twin sisters Lee Da-young and Lee Jae-young, who became embroiled in controversy after their school violence incidents came to light.

At the press conference on the 9th, Yoo asked Kim Yeon-koung about the amount of the women's volleyball prize money and repeatedly urged her to express thanks to President Moon Jae-in, conducting a rude interview that drew criticism from netizens. Some netizens posted messages on the Volleyball Association and Volleyball Federation websites demanding an apology from Yoo. In response, the Volleyball Association stated, "There was no ill intent," and explained, "Rather than forcing, there was a possibility of misunderstanding due to the way it was expressed."

Yoo was an active member of the women's national volleyball team in the 1980s, participating in the 1984 Seoul Asian Games and the 1988 Seoul Olympics.

In particular, Yoo is known to have a close friendship with the twin sisters Lee Da-young and Lee Jae-young. During the 1986 Asian Games, Yoo played as a teammate with Kim Kyung-hee, the mother of Lee Da-young and Lee Jae-young and a former volleyball player, on the Hanil Hapsom team. Currently, they are both members of the Korea Women's Volleyball National Team Council.

On February 26, before the women's professional volleyball match between Incheon Heungkuk Life and Seoul GS Caltex held at Incheon Gyeyang Gymnasium, Lee Jae-young (left) and Lee Da-young, who were selected as All-Stars through fan voting, are holding trophies.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

Last year, in an interview with a media outlet, Yoo was asked if there was a "charming player you would want as a daughter-in-law," to which she replied, "A friend like Lee Da-young is so charming that I would want her as a daughter-in-law," and praised, "Lee Da-young's skills have improved a lot, just like Lee Jae-young."

Yoo also complimented Kim Yeon-koung's showmanship and fan service, while emphasizing the strengths of the Lee Da-young and Lee Jae-young sisters by saying, "Lee Jae-young's actions are not excessive. The energy Lee Da-young shows is amazing. We should applaud such friends."

Yoo's close relationship was also captured on camera when she personally visited the twins while they were playing for Heungkuk Life Insurance and comforted Lee Da-young.

Meanwhile, after the 'school violence controversy,' the twin sisters Lee Da-young and Lee Jae-young, who had been keeping a low profile, appeared on KBS on June 30 and said, "We are truly sorry for the actions that hurt those friends. Although one apology cannot erase the wounds, we will reflect for life and offer sincere apologies." However, they also expressed their grievances by stating, "There was never an incident where a knife was pressed to the neck and stabbed. We only held a knife and cursed," which drew criticism from netizens.

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