[Power K Woman] The Cool-Headed "Bao Zheng of the Court": "My 20 Years as a Referee Is My Greatest Pride"

Interview with Jeon Youngah, Chairwoman of the Korea Volleyball Federation Referees Committee
Transitioned to coaching out of a thirst for learning
Gained fame for sharp decisions as a referee
Over 20 years of officiating since the inaugural seas

Jeon Youngah, Chairwoman of the Korea Volleyball Federation Referees Committee, is the only person who has served on the court for more than 20 years since the launch of professional volleyball in 2005. With a record of 919 matches as chief and assistant referee and 83 matches as line judge, she was appointed in June this year as the second female Chairwoman of the Referees Committee, following former Chairwoman Kang Juhee.

During her time as a referee, Jeon was well-known for her sharp decisions on the court, despite her petite stature and gentle smile. This earned her the nickname "Bao Zheng of the Court." The journey was not always smooth. In women's professional volleyball, which receives a lot of attention every game, making decisions that could significantly affect the outcome always brought both mental and physical challenges. Nevertheless, she says, "Someday, I want to return to the field." We spoke with her about her life in volleyball so far.

Young-Ah Jeon, Chairwoman of the Korea Volleyball Federation Referees Committee, is being interviewed on the 15th at the Korea Volleyball Federation in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

-You were also active as a youth national volleyball player. What made you switch from being a player to a referee?

▲In fact, I first started sports by playing table tennis, influenced by my father, who was a table tennis player. However, my father suggested, "Table tennis has a short athletic career, so why not try volleyball, which you can play longer?" That led me to switch sports. I worked really hard after starting volleyball. At some point, I realized, "I've been so focused on volleyball that I don't know much about the world." Even while playing volleyball, I always had a thirst for learning. Wanting to study, I gave up my athletic career and entered the Department of Sports Coaching at Hanyang University. I had no regrets or lingering feelings about my choice then, and I still don't.

-After becoming a referee, were there things you discovered that you hadn't noticed as a player?

▲As a referee, I learned about numerous rules and details I didn't know as a player. Even players on the court often don't know all the detailed rules. For example, in volleyball, for a center line violation to be called, the foot must completely cross the 5cm center line. If any part of the foot is still touching the line, it's not a violation. Many times, people who don't know these details have protested, asking for a foul to be called, which put me in difficult situations. Personally, I hope that all players thoroughly understand the detailed rules.

-It seems you must have faced many controversies over decisions based on rules that players don't fully understand.

▲Due to differences between international and domestic rules, there have been times when I made the correct call but received intense protests during the game, and related videos spread online. In 2021, during a match between Heungkuk Life Insurance and GS Caltex, Kim Yeonkyung succeeded in a block-out, but under the local "last touch" rule, she was not awarded the point and it was counted as a loss. According to international rules, a block touch out always gives the point to the attacker, but the local rule determines who last touched the ball and calls a foul on that player. I think this episode occurred because Kim Yeonkyung, who had just returned to Korea after a long stint in Europe, was unfamiliar with the local rule.

Young-A Jeon, Chairperson of the Referees Committee of the Korea Volleyball Federation, is being interviewed on the 15th at the Korea Volleyball Federation in Mapo-gu, Seoul. Photo by Jinhyung Kang

-There are so many rules, and detailed regulations change over time. Was it difficult to keep up with all of them?

▲The rules change every four years, or sometimes every two years, so referees must constantly study. There is a vast amount to learn, as you have to look at the rulebook, the casebook, and the guidelines and apply them in real matches. If there is a problem with a decision during a match, I review the video clips afterward to analyze what caused the controversy. I think this is a fate that all referees must accept.

-When it's difficult to judge a foul with the naked eye, do you have your own principles for making decisions?

▲First, I trust my instincts, which have been honed through years of experience. If that's not enough, I seek help from my team members, such as the assistant referees. If the issue still can't be resolved, I make the final decision using video review. If even video review can't clarify the situation, that's what we call an "on-site error," and I strive to minimize such errors.

Decisions that must be made by sight on the court require keen judgment, concentration, and quick reflexes. Personally, I try to observe and consider everything around me, including subtle movements, sounds, and even the players' facial expressions. Before entering a match, I always remind myself, "Don't rush." When a foul occurs, I blow the whistle, but before making the final call, I take one or two seconds to reassess the players' expressions and reactions, and then make my decision.

Jeon Youngah, Chairwoman of the Referee Committee of the Korea Volleyball Federation, is posing before an interview at the Korea Volleyball Federation in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-When is the most difficult moment as a referee?

▲During matches, various incidents occur that even video review can't capture, and when these scenes are broadcast live on TV and become controversial, that's when I feel most troubled. Not long ago, there was an incident where a foreign coach from Heungkuk Life Insurance made a mocking gesture toward the Jeong Kwanjang coach, which was broadcast on TV. I was the assistant referee for that match, but since the coach did it behind my back, I was completely unaware at the time. Later, when it became known through TV, the referees were criticized for not warning or penalizing the coach's rude behavior. The most difficult situations are when things that no one noticed during the match are replayed on TV and become an issue.

-You are also an international referee for the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB). How are domestic matches different from international ones?

▲The biggest difference is how players express their emotions, which varies by culture. Last year, I officiated a men's match in Iran, and the protests were very intense and the appeals aggressive, which was surprising. There were even frequent "Hollywood actions" that are rare in domestic matches. In such cases, as a referee, I have to use different approaches depending on the situation. For teams that exaggerate, I have to scrutinize even small gestures to determine whether they are natural or deliberate.

-As someone who has been in volleyball for a long time, what do you think is the most urgent task for the Korean volleyball community?

▲In any sport, achieving good results in international competitions is key to gaining national popularity. In the case of Korean volleyball, I believe the popularity grew thanks to the outstanding performances of star player Kim Yeonkyung and the resulting international success. What concerns me is that with Kim Yeonkyung's retirement, the international competitiveness of Korean volleyball continues to decline. It is very unfortunate that I cannot say with confidence that this popularity will continue. I believe the most urgent task is to enhance the international competitiveness of Korean women's volleyball.

Jeon Youngah, Chairwoman of the Referee Committee of the Korea Volleyball Federation, is posing before an interview at the Korea Volleyball Federation in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

-As a woman in the sports world, which is still seen as male-dominated, have you faced any difficulties?

▲Even now, it is customary not to assign female referees as chief referees in men's matches. As a result, female referees have far fewer opportunities to officiate than their male counterparts. I've seen many cases where referees who started after me were promoted faster. In fact, rallies in women's matches are much longer than in men's, requiring greater concentration and sharper senses. Rather than feeling resentful, I am motivated to become an even better referee.

-Do you have any goals or dreams you want to achieve in the future?

▲In the short term, I want to finish this season safely and without incident. In the long term, although I am currently away from the field, I hope to return someday. Personally, being the only person to have worked as a referee for more than 20 years since the first year of professional volleyball is one of my greatest sources of pride. As an FIVB referee, I want to be assigned to major tournaments such as the Volleyball Nations League or the World Championships. Ultimately, my dream is to retire honorably as a referee. When I think about the larger referee organization, my goal is to build trust so that players and fans can believe in the fairness of the sport. On a personal level, I just hope to stay healthy. I want to continue working for a long time while maintaining both my physical and mental health.

Jeon Youngah, Chairwoman of the Referee Committee of the Korea Volleyball Federation, is posing before an interview at the Korea Volleyball Federation in Mapo-gu, Seoul on the 15th. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

▶About Jeon Youngah, Chairwoman of the Korea Volleyball Federation Referees Committee

She started playing volleyball in fifth grade and played as a setter for Kyungbok Girls’ Commercial High School. From 1989 to 1993, she played for Fujifilm and Hanil Synthetic. Immediately after joining the corporate league, she was also active as a youth national team member, but in 1995 she ended her playing career and entered the Department of Sports Coaching at Hanyang University. After graduating, she worked as an amateur referee, and when professional volleyball was launched in 2005, she became one of the first professional referees for the Volleyball Federation. She made her debut as chief referee on September 22, 2006, at the KT&G vs. Heungkuk Life Insurance women's cup match held at Yangsan Gymnasium in Gyeongnam Province.

She is the only person to have worked as a referee from the inaugural year of professional volleyball to the present, and was the first woman to officiate 500 matches. She is also the only woman to have served as chief referee in men's matches. In the 2013-2014 season, she received the Best Referee Award at the V-League Awards. In June this year, she was appointed as the second female Chairwoman of the Referees Committee, following former Chairwoman Kang Juhee, who served just before her predecessor Choi Jaeho.