Since the establishment of the Korea Volleyball Federation, KOVO, I wonder if 'player registration' has become such a hot potato. The registration issue of Lee Jae-young and Da-young Lee, the twin sisters of Heungkuk Life's twin sisters, who are caught up in the controversy over school violence, is heating up the volleyball world every day.
Heungkuk Life Insurance was planning to inform the media about the registration of Lee Jae-young and Da-young Lee through a press release at 5 pm yesterday (28th). An official from Heungkuk Life Insurance said, "We are going to register the two players with KOVO and exercise the club's unique right of retention. We will announce our position soon." He also drew a line that 'player registration' does not mean a comeback. The official added, "Until the victim accepts the apology and an amicable agreement is reached, the twin sisters will not return to the court."
However, even after 5 pm, there was no announcement from the club. The club then left a message saying, "It seems difficult to announce the position. I'm sorry." As a result of SBS coverage, it was confirmed that the club's executives wrote a press release with the above content and submitted it to a high-ranking official for approval, but it was not approved. It is interpreted that the internal position regarding the registration of twin sisters as players is not properly arranged.
Sisters Lee Jae-young and Da-young Lee left the court during the season due to school violence in February. The Heungkuk Life team decided to suspend the game indefinitely on its own, and the Korean Volleyball Association issued a disciplinary action to disqualify the national team.
However, on the 11th, the news that Da-young Lee would advance to the Greek league became controversial. At the time, the club said, 'We do not know anything about it,' but it turned out that Heungkuk Life Club was seeking overseas expansion together. The Korean Volleyball Association adhered to the position that "International Transfer Agreements (ITCs) cannot be issued to players who have been disciplined for sexual assault", and Lee Da-young's overseas expansion has become difficult.
As the controversy over overseas expansion has subsided, the issue of registering players for twin sisters has heated up the volleyball world. Heungkuk Life's general manager Yeo-il Kim mentioned the registration of the two players at the KOVO board meeting, and public opinion swelled as rumors of their return circulated.
Heungkuk Life Club emphasized 'the club's rights to the players'. He explained that if he did not register as a player, he was only exercising the right to withhold the player, as both players would become free agents. However, volleyball fans and the media interpret it as 'player registration = return'. Considering Heungkuk Life's response so far, 'player registration = return' is not an unreasonable interpretation. When the bullying issue broke out, the club was criticized for being lukewarm. Although the 'indefinite suspension' was belatedly imposed, public opinion had already turned its back.
The exercise of the right to withhold a player is not to be blamed as it is the sole right of the club. However, it seems irresponsible for the twin sisters, who have been identified as perpetrators of school violence, to only claim the rights of the club in a situation where there is no apology, reconciliation, or settlement for the victims. According to the press release that we were going to announce yesterday, if it is nailed down that "the twin sisters will not return to court until the victim accepts the apology and an amicable agreement is reached," then the club's player registration is an understandable decision.
However, for some reason, Heungkuk Life Insurance postponed the release of the press release and only fueled the controversy. It is a look of confusion between the rights and criticism of the twin sisters Lee Jae-young and Da-young Lee, who cannot give up.
(Photo = Yonhap News)