Sports Community 'School Violence Me Too' Movement Spreads
Victims Reveal Past Abuse Online Long After School Days
79.6% of Student Athletes in Elementary to High School Conceal Abuse
Experts Say "Sports Community's Internal Issues Have Passed Critical Point"
"Must Use This Incident as an Opportunity for Reform"
Twin professional volleyball players Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young (25, Heungkuk Life) who participated in the game last October. / Photo by Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Juhyung] The sports world is rocked by a series of so-called 'school violence (hakpok) Me Too' revelations. It is pointed out that victims who were bullied by seniors or related persons during their school days but could not properly report it have belatedly taken action. While some argue that such hakpok Me Too movements could help protect human rights in the domestic sports world, there are also considerable concerns that they could be misused as baseless 'witch hunts.' Experts advise that to resolve these issues, a system should be established within the sports community to facilitate smooth reporting of victimization.
Earlier, on the 10th, a netizen posted on an online community exposing past school violence by professional volleyball players and twin sisters Lee Jaeyoung and Dayoung (25, Heungkuk Life Insurance), sparking the hakpok Me Too controversy.
Following the initial exposure, additional posts related to the twins' school violence appeared on internet communities and social networking services (SNS), and amid growing controversy, Heungkuk Life Insurance and the Korea Volleyball Association decided on severe disciplinary actions against the sisters on the 15th.
The hakpok Me Too movement did not stop in women's professional volleyball. On the 13th, posts exposing past school violence by male professional volleyball players Song Myunggeun (28) and Shim Kyungseop (30) of OK Financial Group also surfaced, causing controversy.
OK Financial Group issued a statement that day, saying, "We sincerely apologize to our fans for disappointing you due to our players being involved in school violence," adding, "We tried to meet the victims directly to apologize again, but since we could not reach them, we have conveyed our apologies via text message."
Shim Kyung-seop (left) and Song Myung-geun, who admitted to being involved in past school violence incidents. / Photo by Yonhap News
Given the situation, concerns are rising that the hakpok Me Too movement could spread beyond volleyball to the entire sports world. Victims who suffered school violence during their elementary, middle, or high school athlete years but could not report it due to fear of retaliation are now using the anonymity of the internet to come forward, making it uncertain when and where another case like the twin sisters might emerge.
According to a 2019 human rights survey conducted by the National Human Rights Commission targeting elementary, middle, and high school athletes, 79.6% of students who suffered physical or verbal violence from coaches or seniors responded that they did not report or inform others about the abuse.
The reasons cited included "fear of retaliation" (24.5%) and "not knowing how to respond" (13%). Because there was no proper way to report school violence, cases of belated exposure through online communities have appeared.
Meanwhile, some citizens have shown positive reactions, saying that hakpok Me Too could help improve the protection of athletes' human rights. Office worker A (29) said, "During the earlier Me Too movement, there was a self-purification movement across various sectors of society with the intention of 'being careful on our own.' I believe hakpok Me Too will also serve to reform the wrong aspects of the sports world."
University student B (26) said, "The more hierarchical and closed a society is, the more necessary it is to have mechanisms to report externally."
Experts have suggested that reporting-related systems, including victim protection, should be established to address the issue of school violence in the sports community. / Photo by Yonhap News
On the other hand, concerns were raised that the hakpok Me Too movement might lead to baseless defamation against some athletes. Office worker C said, "Since school violence is a serious issue, disciplinary actions and even criminal penalties can be imposed, but it should not be done through anonymous netizens posting expos?s on the internet," expressing worry, "What if someone with malice toward an athlete attempts a witch hunt?"
Experts suggested establishing a system within the sports community to safely report victimization, including protection for whistleblowers.
Professor Lee Soojeong of the Department of Criminal Psychology at Kyonggi University said in an interview with 'Yonhap News TV' on the 16th, "For victims to report, a system must first exist," pointing out, "Due to deficiencies in the system, when victims complained, their cases were often covered up, so reports have not been made well until now."
She added, "If victims who report suffer retaliatory violence, their safety cannot be ensured," and urged the establishment of related systems, saying, "Because there is no benefit or effectiveness in reporting, these problems have accumulated."
While expressing concerns about witch hunts, experts also pointed out that the sports world reality has forced victims to expose issues directly.
Professor Oh Yunseong of the Department of Police Administration at Soonchunhyang University said, "I see this as a phase where long-standing problems within the sports world have reached a critical point and exploded. Although there have been many violent incidents in the sports world, insufficient measures have led victims to take the strong step of direct exposure," emphasizing, "Of course, since the exposure is done anonymously, side effects like witch hunts cannot be completely ruled out, but every solution has its light and shadow. The sports world should take this incident as an opportunity to strive for self-purification and reform."
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
