The announcement of former K-League volleyball player Lee Dayeong’s return to professional sports has sparked mixed reactions across the internet. After three years of inactivity following a series of controversies regarding school-violence, Lee has returned to the volleyball scene after signing with the US volleyball team San Diego Mojo.
Lee Dayeong, alongside her twin sister Lee Jaeyeong, was once celebrated as one of the most promising athletes in South Korea. However, the praise came to an end after sudden allegations of school violence. In February of 2021, a former teammate of the twins posted online detailing several accounts in which the twins participated in acts of bullying. The scandal severely damaged the two’s reputation, and they were expelled from the Korean national team and prohibited from competing in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics.
“It’s a bit frustrating to see Lee Dayeong continue with her career as if nothing happened,” Lauren Lee (9), varsity volleyball player, said. “But I feel like if [the twins] own up to their mistakes, they deserve another chance.”
Eventually, the twins posted an apology on their public Instagram. However, the apology angered fans further because the apology was posted only after more allegations regarding the pair’s acts of violence towards their teammates surfaced. Due to this, many speculated that the athletes only apologized in preparation for further advancements in Lee’s career.
“Athletes are also public figures, so I believe that they should set a good example for everyone watching them as there are young kids that want to become athletes just like them,” Hailie Lee, JV girls volleyball coach, said. “[This scandal] will definitely impact the whole team, as even if the members try to overlook it, the media will always bring it up. This incident really shows that you should live a righteous life and not hurt others.”
Many in the sports industry remain divided on the matter, leaving fans to question what this matter reveals about the values within the community and whether such controversies should be so easily overlooked.
