'School Violence Sisters' Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young, Who Chose Greece, Receive House and Car from Club

Annual Salary Cut by About 80% Compared to Hungkuk Life Insurance Days

Volleyball players Lee Jaeyoung (left) and Lee Dayoung. / Photo by Yonhap News

[Asia Economy Reporter Kang Juhee] Volleyball players Lee Jaeyoung and Lee Dayoung, sisters who caused controversy due to school violence issues, are reportedly receiving an apartment and a car from the Greek women's volleyball team PAOK Thessaloniki, to which they transferred. However, their base salaries have been significantly reduced compared to the amounts they received while playing for the domestic volleyball team Heungkuk Life.

According to Greek media FOS on the 30th of last month, the Lee sisters are expected to complete visa issues and transfer procedures by October 9, when the Greek league begins.

Left attacker Lee Jaeyoung signed a contract with PAOK for an annual salary of 60,000 euros (approximately 82.6 million KRW), and setter Lee Dayoung for 35,000 euros (approximately 48 million KRW). These amounts exclude bonuses and represent about an 80% reduction from their previous salaries. Last season, Lee Jaeyoung received a total annual compensation of about 600 million KRW from Heungkuk Life, and Lee Dayoung received about 400 million KRW.

The Greek league has restrictions on the participation of foreign players, so securing a starting position is not guaranteed. However, the club is reportedly providing them with an apartment, a car, and interpreter services, so the treatment conditions are not unfavorable.

Previously, the Korea Volleyball Association refused to issue the International Transfer Certificate (ITC) for the two players. According to association regulations, those who have been disciplined by the Korean Olympic Committee (KOC), the association, or affiliated volleyball organizations and whose suspension period has not expired are restricted from going abroad.

However, the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) issued the ITC ex officio, giving the two players the opportunity to transfer overseas. FIVB is reported to have stated that "the punishment the sisters must receive is limited to Korea."

Earlier, the Lee sisters were indefinitely suspended from playing by their club Heungkuk Life after allegations of school violence surfaced in February. The Korea Volleyball Association also decided to indefinitely exclude them from the national team. As no sincere apology was made to the victims of school violence, Heungkuk Life removed the two players from the reserved player list for the 2021-2022 season.

While the overseas transfer of the two players is their personal freedom, the domestic public opinion is expected to worsen further as they have never shown an attitude of apology or self-reflection regarding the school violence controversy.