Lee Jaeyoung and Lee Dayoung Train at Alma Mater Before Departure... High School Teacher Says "Should Have Taught More About Character"

Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young, twin sisters aiming to join the Greek women's professional volleyball league, are leaving the Embassy of Greece in Seoul's Jung-gu district after completing their consular interview for employment visa issuance on the 12th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kwon Seoyoung] Volleyball players and twin sisters Lee Jaeyoung and Lee Dayoung, who caused controversy over school violence, were revealed to have conducted night training at their alma mater, Seonmyeong Girls' High School in Sinju, Gyeongnam, before departing for Greece.

According to Channel A on the 15th, the Lee sisters trained separately during nighttime hours when their juniors were not practicing. Their high school coach Kim said, "When they asked if they could come at night for a short training session, I couldn't bring myself to refuse."

Coach Kim commented on the fact that the sisters were effectively expelled from the volleyball world due to the school violence controversy, saying, "Teaching character was not something I was responsible for." Regarding Lee Dayoung, who was also suspected of domestic violence, he said, "I often thought that she should have been taught more about character," and expressed his feelings, "If she ever returns to play in Korea, I hope she has changed a lot."

Earlier, the Lee sisters were identified as perpetrators of school violence in February and received indefinite suspension from their team, Heungkuk Life, and indefinite exclusion from the national team by the Korea Volleyball Association. As it became difficult for them to continue in the domestic league, they pursued joining the Greek league team PAOK Thessaloniki.

The Korea Volleyball Association initially refused to issue their International Transfer Certificates (ICT). This was based on regulations that restrict overseas transfers for those who have been disciplined by related volleyball organizations such as the Korea Olympic Committee (KOC), the association, or affiliated federations, and whose disciplinary period has not expired, or who have caused social controversy due to sexual violence, match-fixing, draft evasion, or other disgraceful acts, or have caused significant damage to the volleyball community.

However, the two players requested an authoritative interpretation from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), and subsequently, the FIVB approved their international transfer certificates ex officio. The sisters are scheduled to board a flight to Greece from Incheon Airport this afternoon (16th) to join the Greek league, which is ongoing for the 2021-22 season. It was previously reported that Lee Jaeyoung signed a contract with PAOK Thessaloniki for 60,000 euros (approximately 82.6 million KRW), and Lee Dayoung for 35,000 euros (approximately 48 million KRW).