Sister of Popular Korean Volleyball Duo Retires Amid Intense Bullying Allegations and Regrets

What kind of bullying did the sisters engage in? The details are extreme. A South Korean journalist familiar with the incident reveals:

“It appears that the victims were not just one person. Multiple former middle school teammates reported being subjected to abusive language such as ‘dirty’ and ‘don’t come near me,’ and during meetings, they were reportedly beaten for ‘lack of spirit.’ Players who shared a room in the dormitory were allegedly ordered to run errands after lights out and threatened with a knife if they refused. Some reportedly had their heads struck hard with a fist after losing a match.

The sisters’ harassment went beyond just physical violence. If players were deemed to lack tension during practice, they were reportedly required to pay fines under the pretext of penalties. After practice, they would call juniors and others to massage them in turns.”

The background to the escalation of this accusation into a major scandal is rooted in specific circumstances unique to South Korea.

“At the time, the South Korean sports world was experiencing a series of troubles. In June 2020, a triathlete, A, took their own life due to abuse from team doctors. Short track athlete B and tennis coach C publicly disclosed their experiences of sexual assault.

Former President Moon Jae-in also took the sisters’ troubles seriously. On February 16, he expressed his pain over ‘repeated incidents of violence, verbal abuse, and sexual harassment in the sports world.’ Bullying is a deeply entrenched issue in South Korean sports,” said the aforementioned South Korean newspaper reporter.

After the allegations surfaced, TV stations deleted archives of the programs featuring the sisters. The sisters retaliated by announcing they would file counterclaims against former classmates who had exposed the bullying. However, this move only further fueled public resentment, leading them to play for an overseas team for a time.

With the bullying allegations leading to a tumultuous athletic career, Jae-yeong’s supporters are now keenly watching which path she will choose for her second life as she seeks support from both domestic and international fans.