"Indefinite Ban from Participation? Exclusion from National Team Selection? Everyone Knows These Will Be Lifted Once Public Opinion Calms Down"

Hungkuk Life Insurance's Lee Jae-young (left) and Lee Da-young are receiving a trophy and posing for a commemorative photo at the award ceremony before the match.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Eun-young] Another victim has come forward claiming to have suffered school violence from the volleyball player twins Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young, who triggered the "school violence Me Too" movement in the sports world.

On the 1st, a post titled "Another victim of the twin volleyball players" was published on an online community.

A, who claimed to have been a victim of school violence by the Lee twins, stated that she played volleyball alongside the twins during her time at Jeonju Jungsan Elementary School, Jeonju Geunyeong Middle School, and Jeonju Geunyeong High School, attaching screenshots of player records as evidence.

A explained the reason for her disclosure, saying, "I am writing this because I was angry after seeing an interview where one of the coaches spoke. I was also a victim, but I regret not having the courage to speak out earlier."

A claimed, "I shared a room with one of them, and the twins always made me bring them clothes, towels, and underwear after showering. That day, as usual, I prepared the shower and brought the items to the perpetrators, but that night, they suddenly called me separately and gathered me."

She continued, "The reason was that one of the perpetrators' wallets had gone missing. They made me hold a motorcycle posture for 30 minutes, asking, 'The wallet is gone,' and 'Did you take it?' I said I didn't, but they cursed me, saying, 'Don't lie. No one else touched my closet except you. It's only you,' and suspected me."

Additionally, A said, "The twins told the coach that I had touched the wallet, so the coach gathered everyone and slapped me, asking, 'Did you take it or not?' When I said I didn't, he said he would keep hitting me until I admitted it, and mercilessly slapped both my cheeks."

Having been hit nearly 40 times because of this incident, A expressed her frustration, saying, "I lied that I took it because the beating wouldn't stop, and it ended. Since that day, through the teachers, I was called 'bad at keeping hands to myself' and 'thief,' which was very unfair."

A also said, "The perpetrators disliked other parents coming to the school except their own, so when my parents came to the dormitory or gym, I always secretly met them hiding in places like the gym storage room." She added, "If we were caught meeting, they would beat me with sweat towels and hangers, and they repeatedly hit my mouth where I had braces, so I always had blood in my mouth."

She continued, "(Once) I had severely injured my ankle during a match and couldn't play, but when I was crying, they said, 'Stop pretending to be hurt and get up. Do you want to ruin the match because of you? We know you're not hurt, so grit your teeth and play.' That day, when I returned to the dorm, I was gathered and scolded for being injured."

Finally, A raised her voice, saying, "Seeing these perpetrators smile on TV was really hollow. I know that indefinite suspension and exclusion from the national team will be lifted once public attention dies down. Their power is something ordinary people cannot stop." She added, "However, if things remain as they are like the previous second whistleblower, more victims like me will continue to emerge."

Earlier, the Lee twins admitted all the school violence allegations that first surfaced on the 9th of last month and posted a handwritten apology the next day. As the controversy spread, their team, Heungkuk Life, imposed a permanent suspension, and they were stripped of their national team qualifications. However, the Volleyball Association did not permanently expel them, leading to criticism that the punishment was merely a "facade."