Conversation History Shared with Junior Player
Lee Hae-in (19, Korea University), a female figure skating national team member who was suspended for three years for sexually harassing a minor junior during overseas training, has revealed the conversation she had with the victim. However, the victim claims to be receiving hospital treatment due to psychological shock, showing conflicting positions.
"I will secretly cherish you a lot" ? Affectionate conversation revealed... Victim says "The hickey was my fault"
Conversation content between Lee Hae-in and a person presumed to be sexual harassment victim A. [Image source=Instagram grab capture]
On the 27th, Lee Hae-in posted screenshots of a conversation on her Instagram story (posts visible for 24 hours) with a person presumed to be the minor victim, A athlete. In the photo captioned "The day we decided to date again on May 21," A athlete says, "If someone asks if we're dating again, say no," to which Lee replies, "Still, you are mine." They called each other affectionate nicknames like "honey" and "darling," exchanging loving messages such as "(Dating again) feels like everything is back to normal," and "I will secretly cherish you a lot."
In another photo captioned "The day the teacher saw the hickey on May 24," A athlete says, "Can we avoid meeting here as much as possible and meet only after returning to Korea? If I don't train here and they find out about the hickey, my life will be over." She adds, "But the hickey was my fault, and it's natural to take responsibility." Lee responds, "I'm sorry. Even if you asked me to, I shouldn't have done it," and "I was thoughtless. I understood everything you said. Let's just not meet."
When A athlete asks, "Not meeting doesn't mean breaking up, right? That's what you mean too, right? It doesn't mean we're breaking up?" Lee replies, "That's not what I mean. We will never break up. Don't worry."
Victim's side: "There was a mark on my neck, I immediately left the room... Started psychiatric treatment after Lee Hae-in collected evidence post-incident"
Lee Hae-in's detailed disclosure of the conversation appears to be a rebuttal to the statement released by A athlete's side that day. A athlete's legal representative explained, "The two athletes dated for about three months from July 2023 before breaking up. The victim tried to avoid Lee Hae-in afterward, but during last month's overseas training, Lee called her to the dormitory to talk and proposed meeting again, to which the victim agreed the next day." They added, "At that time, Lee asked A athlete about the hickey, and since A athlete was unsure, she told Lee to try. Then Lee kissed A athlete's neck, leaving a hickey mark." They claimed, "A athlete did not know what a hickey was and was very shocked and surprised to find the mark on her neck, immediately leaving the room."
The victim's side also stated, "After finishing the training and returning home, the victim informed her parents of the incident and broke up with Lee. Then, in mid-this month, they resumed dating following Lee's proposal to have a secret relationship." They added, "Lee occasionally asked about the overseas training incident during their secret relationship and inquired about the situation to collect evidence and respond accordingly. Realizing this, the victim was shocked and began psychiatric treatment."
Lee Hae-in's side: "Reflecting on drinking during training, federation misunderstood the relationship between the two athletes"
Earlier, during the national figure skating team's overseas training held from May 15 to 28 in Varese, Italy, allegations of Lee Hae-in's sexual harassment surfaced. The Korea Skating Union confirmed that Lee and another female figure skater, B athlete, drank alcohol in the dormitory during training. Through an internal investigation, it was further confirmed that Lee and B athlete engaged in behavior that caused sexual discomfort to A athlete, leading to a Sports Fairness Committee hearing. The committee imposed a three-year suspension on Lee for drinking and sexual harassment. A athlete was reprimanded for visiting the dormitory of an opposite-sex athlete, violating intensified training regulations. B athlete received a one-year suspension.
Lee's legal representative, lawyer Kim Garam, stated, "Lee deeply regrets and reflects on drinking during training. However, there was no sexual harassment. Lee and the other athlete were in a romantic relationship but did not inform the Korea Skating Union, causing the federation to misunderstand the facts." Lee's side also announced that they have requested a reconsideration of the federation's disciplinary decision at the Korea Sports & Olympic Committee's Sports Fairness Committee.
Lee herself explained on Instagram, "I deeply regret drinking. However, it is not true that I sexually harassed or sexually assaulted a minor." She added, "The victim was my boyfriend when I was in high school. We broke up due to parental opposition but met again during this training. Since feelings for each other remained, we started dating again, but because it was secret, I could not disclose our relationship during the federation's investigation. I considered the sexual acts as playful or affectionate expressions between lovers."
Lee Hae-in is a leading Korean figure skater who won the silver medal in the women's singles at the International Skating Union (ISU) Figure Skating World Championships in March last year. If the federation's disciplinary level is finalized, she will be unable to participate in the 2026 Milan-Cortina d'Ampezzo Winter Olympics.
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