[Summary] "Both Players Need to Stay Calm" 'School Violence' Lee Jaeyoung & Dayoung... Citizens Outraged Demanding 'Permanent Expulsion'

Pro Volleyball Players Lee Jaeyoung and Lee Dayoung 'School Violence' Controversy
'Permanent Expulsion of Lee Jaeyoung and Lee Dayoung' Petition to Cheong Also Emerges

On the 26th of last month, a women's professional volleyball match between Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders and Seoul GS Caltex KIXX volleyball team was held at Incheon Gyeyang Gymnasium. Lee Jae-young (left) and Lee Da-young of Heungkuk Life, who were selected as All-Stars through the professional volleyball All-Star fan vote, are receiving trophies and taking commemorative photos at the award ceremony before the match.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Seung-gon] The twin sisters Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young (25) of the women's professional volleyball team Heungkuk Life, who apologized amid a school violence controversy, left the team dormitory and missed the game on the 11th. The Heungkuk Life team plans to support the recovery of the two players through psychological treatment for the time being. However, as this response from the team became known, there have been ongoing criticisms among citizens that it is incomprehensible.

There are criticisms that the team is prioritizing the mental and physical stability of the two players rather than taking related actions such as permanent expulsion in response to the horrific school violence (hakpok) committed by the two players, which is difficult to understand.

Some have continued to criticize the team for still responding lukewarmly to this incident. On the Blue House National Petition site, a petition was posted demanding an immediate investigation into the incident and calling for their permanent expulsion from the volleyball community.

The twin sisters Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young posted handwritten apology letters on their respective Instagram accounts on the 10th, expressing their intention to meet the victims directly and apologize at an appropriate time.

It is currently known that the two players have left the team dormitory. They also missed the away game held at Gimcheon Gymnasium in Gyeongbuk on that day. A Heungkuk Life official 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 a very poor condition and need to take care of their mental and physical stability."

He continued, "Disciplinary action should be taken when the players are in a mental and physical state capable of accepting it," explaining that the current situation prioritizes player protection before punishment.

Given this situation, critical public opinion about the team's response is rising. The fact that the team is providing mental and physical treatment rather than taking related measures such as permanent expulsion of the perpetrators who committed brutal school violence indicates that they still do not fully understand the situation. This is why criticism arises that the team is still responding lukewarmly.

Kim, a company employee in his 30s, said, "School violence is not just simple assault but an act that can ruin a person's life," and added, "Still considering their well-being is a secondary harm to the victims," raising his voice.

On July 29 last year, Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young are talking at the media day held at the Heungkuk Life Training Center in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

There were also criticisms that the players' apologies lack sincerity. Lee, a university student in her 20s, said, "If they were truly sorry to the victims, they would have had many opportunities to apologize earlier," and added, "Apologizing only now feels like a forced apology because it became a problem. I don't think they are reflecting at all," criticizing them.

Earlier, a post claiming to be a victim of school violence by Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young was uploaded on an online community. Those who were known to have played together with the twin sisters in elementary and middle school volleyball teams posted a lengthy message titled "Current Volleyball Players' School Violence Victims," exposing the twins' perpetration and stating, "We want a sincere apology."

They revealed victimization details such as "If they didn't like someone, they insulted their parents by calling them 'your mother, your father'," "When refusing to run errands, they threatened with a knife," and "They frequently collected money, pinched stomachs, slapped mouths, gathered us, and hit heads with fists."

A Blue House petition urging strict action against Heungkuk Life Insurance twins Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young (25) regarding the facts of school violence. Photo by Blue House petition board capture

Citizens were outraged by the persistent and horrific school violence committed by the two players and even posted a petition on the Blue House National Petition board calling for their permanent expulsion.

On the 12th, a petition appeared on the Blue House National Petition board stating, "If the school violence by the female volleyball players is true, the Volleyball Federation should permanently expel the players," adding, "If they are star players representing Korean volleyball, this is an issue that cannot be overlooked."

The petition titled "Demanding a thorough investigation and strict response to the women's volleyball players' school violence incident" had 90,393 supporters as of 7:30 a.m. on the 15th.

Another petition argued, "These two players are not qualified to be athletes, and I hope they show through permanent expulsion from the volleyball world that sports are not just about being good at playing."

As the school violence scandal spread, the twin sisters posted handwritten apology letters. They posted the apology letters on their respective Instagram accounts, reflecting on their wrongdoings during school and sincerely apologizing to the victims.

Lee Jae-young apologized, "I am deeply sorry to those who suffered because of my wrong words and actions during my school days. I was wrong." Lee Da-young also wrote, "I deeply apologize for causing painful memories and wounds to teammates who sweated and trained together during school," adding, "I feel deep remorse and will reflect and keep a low profile."

However, controversy continues as Lee Da-young unfollowed Kim Yeon-koung's Instagram account after posting the apology letter, fueling rumors of discord.

Meanwhile, Heungkuk Life is expected to finalize disciplinary actions against the twin sisters today.