KOVO suspends former Jeonggwanjang volleyball coach for five years over sexual misconduct
In short
The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) said on October 9 that its disciplinary committee had suspended a former coach of women's professional volleyball club Jeonggwanjang (정관장) for five years over sexual misconduct toward a player. Former head coach Ko Hee-jin (고희진) received a warning and a 3 million won fine for inappropriate words and conduct in an inappropriate place, which the committee said did not amount to sexual misconduct. The committee also fined one club 12 million won for exceeding the cap on total player pay.
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The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) said on October 9 that its disciplinary committee had imposed a five-year suspension on a former coach of women's professional volleyball club Jeonggwanjang (정관장) over sexual misconduct toward a player. The committee met on the morning of October 8 in the federation's conference room, which Hankook Ilbo located in Mapo-gu, Seoul. It judged the coach's act to be a serious anti-social act related to sexual misconduct and decided the suspension under the federation's disciplinary rules. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
The committee found that the conduct of former head coach Ko Hee-jin (고희진), who was reviewed alongside the coach, did not amount to sexual misconduct. It ruled that his inappropriate words and conduct in an inappropriate place counted as 'other acts damaging dignity'. Taking into account the degree and circumstances of the conduct, his usual behaviour and his past achievements, it gave him a warning and a fine of 3 million won. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
According to Yonhap and Newsis, the case stems from a Jeonggwanjang team dinner during the All-Star break in January. The club learned in May that the coach had acted inappropriately toward a player, separated those involved and reported the matter to KOVO and the Sports Ethics Center. The center investigated and asked the federation to discipline the coach and Ko. The committee asked both to submit explanations and heard statements from those involved before deciding. [ 1 , 2 , 3 ]
Ko, who attended the dinner, reportedly said he did not see the coach's act. Yonhap and Newsis reported that he had been excluded from club duties since May. Jeonggwanjang issued an apology in July, and Ko resigned in August, taking responsibility for the incident, according to Yonhap and Hankook Ilbo. Yonhap and Newsis reported that the club appointed former Heungkuk Life head coach Kwon Soon-chan (권순찬) as its new head coach on the 6th. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
At the same hearing, the committee fined one club 12 million won after confirming that a captain's allowance of 12 million won had put it over the cap on total player pay. It found the breach was a simple error made while following existing accounting and administrative practice without closely checking the rules, with no intent, but imposed a fine equal to 100% of the excess. Another club's 500,000 won bonus for national team selection was ruled a parent-company welfare benefit not counted as player pay, and that club was not disciplined. The documents do not name either club and label them differently. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Why it matters
Outlets described the five-year suspension as a heavy penalty, and the committee called the coach's act a serious anti-social act related to sexual misconduct. Before the ruling, Jeonggwanjang had issued an apology and its head coach had resigned, taking responsibility for the incident. The same hearing also enforced the league's cap on total player pay.
Key facts
- KOVO's disciplinary committee met on the morning of October 8 in the federation's conference room and announced the results on October 9. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A former Jeonggwanjang coach received a five-year suspension for sexual misconduct toward a player. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Former head coach Ko Hee-jin received a warning and a 3 million won fine for 'other acts damaging dignity'; the committee found his conduct was not sexual misconduct. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- The incident occurred at a Jeonggwanjang team dinner during the All-Star break in January. [ 2 , 3 ]
- The Sports Ethics Center investigated and asked the federation to discipline two coaching staff members. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- One club was fined 12 million won, 100% of the amount by which it exceeded the player pay cap through a captain's allowance. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Another club's 500,000 won bonus for national team selection was ruled a parent-company welfare benefit, and that club was not disciplined. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- The former Jeonggwanjang coach was suspended for five years after the committee judged his act a serious anti-social act related to sexual misconduct. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ko Hee-jin was given a warning and fined 3 million won for inappropriate words and conduct in an inappropriate place. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jeonggwanjang issued an apology in July and Ko resigned in August. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Ko reportedly said he did not see the coach's act at the dinner he attended. [ 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- A club that exceeded the player pay cap by 12 million won was fined 12 million won; the committee found no intent, calling it a simple error. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Jeonggwanjang appointed former Heungkuk Life head coach Kwon Soon-chan (권순찬) as its new head coach on the 6th. [ 2 , 3 ]
Still unclear
- The suspended coach's identity. The documents do not name him; Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo refer to him as coach L, while Yonhap and Newsis call him former coach A.
- Which clubs were involved in the player pay cap rulings. The documents do not name the clubs and label them differently: club A and club B in Chosun Ilbo and Hankook Ilbo, club B and club C in Yonhap and Newsis.