[Summary] "Volleyball Played Only by Twins... Mother Kim Kyung-hee Also Coaching," Victim's Parent Reveals

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 posing for a commemorative photo at the awards ceremony before the game.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Following additional allegations related to school violence involving professional female volleyball players Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young (26, Heungkuk Life) sisters on the previous day (13th), a person claiming to be a parent of a school violence victim has come forward, drawing even more attention.

On the 14th, a post appeared on an online community saying, "Thinking that our children have been holding onto memories of an incident that happened 10 years ago made me feel helpless as a parent." The author, identified as A, introduced themselves as a parent of a victim of school violence by the Lee Jae-young and Da-young sisters.

A said, "Even though a serious incident involving a knife occurred, parents at the time were completely unaware and only found out later," adding, "As a parent, I had no idea that the children were being extorted or severely bullied."

The "serious incident involving a knife" mentioned by A is presumed to be the case first revealed by a victim on the 10th, who exposed the school violence by the Lee sisters. At that time, the victim stated, "The twin sisters insulted their parents with abusive language such as 'your XX, XX' if they were displeased, and when the victim sharing a dormitory with them refused to run errands, they threatened with a knife."

A said, "When I learned about this, my heart as a parent was in hell, and I couldn't imagine how our children must have felt," adding, "Now that this has come to light after 10 years, the children are suffering again."

Photo uploaded by a parent of twin sisters who were victims of school violence. / Photo by Online Community Capture

A also shared an anecdote related to Kim Kyung-hee, the mother of the twin sisters. Kim Kyung-hee, mother of Lee Jae-young and Da-young, is a former national volleyball player who had considerable influence in the volleyball world, known as the top-ranked setter among her peers during high school.

A said, "When I attended matches, it was volleyball played only by the twins, while the others just held their positions," and claimed, "I repeatedly overheard comments from external officials and other parents in the stands saying, 'Is this volleyball only for the twins, who lift and hit each other?'"

A also revealed, "I heard Kim Kyung-hee, mother of Lee Jae-young and Da-young, coaching her daughter over the phone in the parents' room at the match," specifying, "She was clearly instructing, saying things like 'Pass the ball to your sister, do this or that.'"

Finally, A raised their voice, saying, "Heungkuk Life, the Korea Volleyball Association, and the Korean Sports Council are bystanders right now. There are more than just one or two victims, yet they are only watching each other cautiously," and added, "The two do not seem to have any intention of sincerely apologizing to the victims, so appropriate severe disciplinary action must be taken."

Meanwhile, the school violence controversy involving Lee Jae-young and Da-young has not subsided easily, with additional allegations emerging daily since it first surfaced on the 10th.

A post uploaded by a classmate who claimed to have been subjected to violence during school days by national women's volleyball team players Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young. / Photo by Online Community Capture

Earlier on the 10th, the first whistleblower B, who claimed to be a victim of school violence by the twin sisters, stated that at least four people, including themselves, suffered from the twins and listed 21 instances of abuse.

The details included shocking and specific content such as, "The perpetrator ordered the victim sharing the same room to do something, and when refused, threatened with a knife," and "They boldly showed a sketchbook with insults against the victim and their family. When a parent offered snacks, the perpetrator whispered quietly, 'Don't eat it. If you do, you'll die.'"

On the 13th, a post titled "Another Victim" was uploaded to an online community, continuing additional allegations against the twin sisters.
/Photo by Online Community Capture

As the controversy spread, the twin sisters quickly apologized, saying "We are sorry," but on the 13th, another post titled "I am another victim" was uploaded, continuing the additional allegations.

C, who claimed to have been bullied by the Lee sisters during middle school, said, "I met the two from the 6th grade of elementary school, and I realized that my misfortune started then," and claimed, "Primarily, the most basic task was laundry; they should have organized their own clothes, but they made juniors or peers do it."

C continued, "When they made mistakes, they told their parents, so there were many days when the whole group got scolded. Eventually, I couldn't live there anymore and ran away after a year and a half. I just wanted to play volleyball, not to support someone's side while losing practice time."

C criticized Heungkuk Life, the team of the two sisters, for stating they would discipline them "after their mental and physical stability is restored," saying, "If they are just waiting quietly for this to blow over, more incidents will come out one by one," and added, "Even if you give all your assets, it won't erase the wounds the victims suffered."

On the 13th, OK Financial Group issued a statement saying, "Players Song Myeong-geun and Shim Gyeong-seop were involved in school violence. We apologize for disappointing our fans." [Image source=Yonhap News]

Meanwhile, even after the twin sisters' apology, additional allegations and testimonies have continued, intensifying the backlash. Their appearances on broadcasts and advertisements have been removed, and a petition demanding their permanent expulsion has been posted on the Blue House's national petition board. On the 13th, male professional volleyball players Song Myung-geun (28) and Shim Kyung-seop (30) from OK Financial Group were also accused of school violence, plunging Korean professional volleyball into panic.

OK Financial Group issued a statement on the 13th apologizing, but a netizen claiming to be a victim said, "This cannot be accepted as an apology," and urged a proper apology.

In response, Song Myung-geun finally admitted all allegations and publicly apologized through his social media on the 14th. He also bowed his head and stated that he would not participate in matches as a form of self-reflection.