Women's Volleyball Coach Ko Hee-jin Resigns Amid Scandal

Ko Hee-jin, the 46-year-old head coach of the women's professional volleyball team Jeong Kwan Jang, has stepped down from his position. The club announced on August 28 that they had accepted Ko's resignation, stating he took responsibility for a series of events. The team is now initiating a swift process to appoint a new coach and restore stability.

The situation stems from an incident during a team dinner in January, when the team's coach allegedly engaged in inappropriate behavior towards a player. The Jeong Kwan Jang club only became aware of the matter in May. Following this discovery, the club reported the incident to the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) and the Sports Ethics Center. As a consequence of his perceived lack of oversight, Ko was temporarily removed from his duties by the club.

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Coach Ko expressed his intention to resign recently, taking responsibility for the series of incidents, and we have decided to accept it.

Currently, the Sports Ethics Center has not yet delivered its investigation findings to KOVO. Once the federation receives the official report, it plans to convene a disciplinary committee to determine the appropriate course of action, including potential sanctions.

The resignation adds a layer of turmoil for Jeong Kwan Jang, who is seeking to stabilize the team amidst the ongoing investigation. The club's statement emphasized their commitment to a rapid resolution in appointing a new leader and ensuring the team's swift return to normalcy.

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We will promptly begin the process of selecting a successor coach and do our utmost to ensure the team regains stability as soon as possible.