DistantNews
🇰🇷 South Korea /Crime & Justice

Volleyball Player Ahn Hye-jin Fined, Warned for Drunk Driving; Out for Season

From Hankyoreh · (4m ago) Korean Critical tone

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

TLDR

  • Professional volleyball player Ahn Hye-jin has been suspended and fined 5 million won by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) for drunk driving.
  • The disciplinary committee cited the severity of the offense but also considered Ahn's relatively low blood alcohol content (0.032%) and her immediate self-reporting to authorities.
  • As a result of the penalty and her failure to secure a contract in the free agency market, Ahn will be unable to play for the upcoming season.

The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) has handed down a stern penalty to Ahn Hye-jin, a key setter for the GS Caltex Seoul KIXX, following her recent drunk driving incident. The federation's disciplinary committee has imposed a severe warning and a fine of 5 million won (approximately $3,600 USD) on the player. This decision comes at a critical juncture for Ahn, as she was navigating the free agency market following a successful season where she led her team to the championship and was selected for the national team.

I sincerely apologize for the worry and concern I have caused. I sincerely apologize to the fans and all related personnel. I will make sure this never happens again.

— Ahn Hye-jinSpeaking to reporters after the disciplinary committee hearing, expressing remorse for her actions.

The committee acknowledged the gravity of drunk driving as a socially unacceptable act, warranting strict punishment. However, they also took into account mitigating factors presented during the hearing. These included Ahn's blood alcohol content, which was reported as 0.032%—just above the legal limit—and her proactive decision to immediately report the incident to her club and the federation. Furthermore, the committee considered the de facto one-year disqualification Ahn faces due to her inability to secure a contract in the free agency market, compounded by her exclusion from the national team roster.

Drunk driving is a serious anti-social act, so it should be severely punished, but considering the relatively low blood alcohol level of 0.032% and that she immediately reported herself to the club and the federation after the accident...

— KOVO Disciplinary CommitteeExplaining the rationale behind the disciplinary decision, balancing the offense with mitigating factors.

This incident has had immediate and significant repercussions for Ahn's career. Not only has she been penalized by KOVO, but her failure to reach an agreement with any club during the free agency period means she will be sidelined for the entire 2025-2026 season. This effectively renders her a 'free agent adrift,' unable to compete professionally for the upcoming year. The federation's stance reflects a commitment to upholding standards of conduct within the sport while also attempting to balance disciplinary measures with the practical consequences faced by the athlete, particularly in the context of contract negotiations and career progression.

The committee considered that Ahn Hye-jin's failure to sign a FA contract is not unrelated to this incident. There were opinions that adding a penalty to the non-contract might be somewhat excessive.

— KOVO OfficialElaborating on the committee's consideration of Ahn's contract situation in relation to the penalty.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Hankyoreh in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

More Stories

From Our Blog