Protest by Lee Jaeyoung Fan Club Expelled Over School Violence Controversy
"Public Broadcaster Decided Without Verification, Withdraw Commentator Selection"
Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young, twin volleyball players who were effectively expelled from the domestic scene due to school violence (hakpok) controversies, are continuously clashing with senior national team player Kim Yeon-koung. Amid this, Lee Jae-young's fan club held a truck protest opposing Kim Yeon-koung's debut as a commentator for the Hangzhou Asian Games. They demand that various allegations be clarified before the commentary begins.
Kim Yeon-koung, who retired from the national team after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics held in 2021, will serve as a KBS commentator for this Asian Games.
Setter Lee Da-young, who has joined the French professional volleyball league, held a press conference ahead of her departure in August to once again apologize to fans for her past involvement in 'school violence' and stated that her twin sister Lee Jae-young is not related to the school violence issue. [Photo by Yonhap News]
On the 27th, Jaeyoung Time, the official fan club of Lee Jae-young, conducted a truck protest opposing Kim Yeon-koung's Asian Games commentary, moving back and forth between the new KBS building in Yeouido, Seoul, and the National Assembly area.
The truck displayed phrases such as “Oppose KBS commentary by Bread Sister Kim Yeon-koung! We don’t want to see her on the Asian Games watched by the entire nation,” “We demand Kim Yeon-koung clarify various allegations before commentary,” and “Strongly oppose Kim Yeon-koung’s KBS volleyball commentary amid allegations of sexual harassment and workplace bullying.”
Jaeyoung Time stated in their position, “Recently, KBS appointed Kim Yeon-koung as a female volleyball commentator and has been continuously promoting this fact,” adding, “As fans of Korean volleyball, we raise our voices in anger against this unreasonable and shameless decision,” explaining the reason for the protest.
Jaeyoung's fan club, Jaeyoung Time, held a truck protest on the 27th, moving back and forth between the front of the KBS New Building in Yeouido, Seoul, and the area around the National Assembly. [Photo by Jaeyoung Time]
They continued, “KBS is a public broadcaster operated with taxpayers’ money, and Kim Yeon-koung is a person involved in very serious allegations such as workplace bullying, abuse of power, and sexual harassment,” adding, “It is deplorable that despite much time passing since these allegations were raised, there has been no form of investigation or reporting, and now she appears boldly as a commentator without any explanation. Does this make sense?”
They said, “We cannot accept (Kim Yeon-koung’s commentary). No matter how great the player’s achievements are, if there were wrongful acts, they must be thoroughly verified and appropriate responsibility taken,” and “If a player in another sport had serious allegations raised, would that player be able to appear so confidently and be treated so favorably? On what grounds does KBS grant such immunity and privilege to this player?” They strongly demanded that KBS withdraw Kim Yeon-koung’s appointment as an Asian Games commentator.
Previously, Kim Yeon-koung, Lee Jae-young, and Lee Da-young played together for Heungkuk Life during the 2020?2021 season. Amid team discord rumors and the twins’ school violence controversy, Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young were released from Heungkuk Life. Both transferred to the Greek league in October of the same year, but Lee Jae-young returned early due to injury a month later and is currently training individually without a team.
Lee Da-young played the 2021?2022 season in the Greek league, then the following year in Romania, and is playing in the French league for the 2023?2024 season. On the 5th of last month, before departing, Lee Da-young held a press conference voluntarily, bringing the conflict with Kim Yeon-koung to the surface. Since then, she has continued daily revelations by sharing KakaoTalk conversations exchanged with Kim Yeon-koung on social media and accusing Kim Yeon-koung of being a ‘sexual harassment and abuse of power perpetrator.’
Lee Jae-young also claimed in an interview with the media that she had a difficult time due to Kim Yeon-koung’s bullying during their time at Heungkuk Life.
Meanwhile, Kim Yeon-koung’s agency, Ryan At, announced on the 16th, “We plan to take strong action against maliciously written and distributed press releases and YouTubers regarding Kim Yeon-koung,” adding, “There will be no leniency or settlement under any circumstances.”
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