[Asia Economy Reporter Heo Kyung-jun] Female professional volleyball player Jo Song-hwa filed a lawsuit against the IBK Industrial Bank team, which notified her of contract termination due to unauthorized absence, but lost in the first trial.
On the 14th, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 14 (Presiding Judge Seo Bo-min) ruled against Jo Song-hwa in the 'Request for Confirmation of Invalidity of Contract Termination' lawsuit filed against IBK Industrial Bank and Altos Volleyball Team.
Jo Song-hwa, the starting setter and captain of the women's professional volleyball team IBK Industrial Bank Altos, caused controversy last year by leaving the team twice. After dismissing former coach Seo Nam-won, the team attempted to designate Jo Song-hwa as a free agent through voluntary termination, but it failed as she did not agree.
Accordingly, on December 13 last year, the team decided to terminate the player contract with Jo Song-hwa, and the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced her as a free agent at the team's request.
Jo Song-hwa claimed, "I did not leave without permission; I only visited the team trainer and hospital due to poor physical condition," and on December 24 last year, she filed a lawsuit against the team disputing the effectiveness of the contract termination and simultaneously requested a provisional injunction to suspend the effect of the termination notice.
In January this year, the Seoul Central District Court Civil Division 50 (Chief Presiding Judge Song Kyung-geun) dismissed Jo Song-hwa's provisional injunction request to suspend the effect of the contract termination notice against the team.
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