| Sangi Kim, acting supervisory manager of IBK, gives operational instructions to Ha-Kyung Kim during the match between Heungkuk Life Insurance and IBK in the Dodram 2021-2022 V League held at Samsan World Gymnasium in Bupyeong-gu, Incheon on the afternoon of the 23rd. 2021.11.23/News 1 © News1 Reporter Park Jeong-ho |
“No matter what I do, there is nothing but an article from IBK Industrial Bank of Korea…”
An official from the volleyball team sighed as he mentioned the recent IBK Industrial Bank incident. It was a story of disappointment that all the issues of the men’s team’s all-time ranking competition, which could receive a lot of cheers from fans, and the women’s team, Hyundai E&C’s 11 consecutive wins were all buried.
In the 2021-22 season, the men’s V-League has a fierce race. The battle for ranking is so fierce that four teams, from the leading OK Financial Group to Korea Electric Power Corporation, Korean Air, and Hyundai Capital, have the same points (18).
In the women’s division, Hyundai E&C set a record of 11 consecutive wins after the opening, surpassing the 10 victories of ‘Heungkuk Life Insurance + Avengers’ last season, but it has not received much attention.
It is because of the ‘IBK Industrial Bank incident’ that sucks up all issues in the volleyball world like a black hole.
IBK has disappointed fans with the news of the departure of setter Song-hwa Jo and coach Sani Kim. Then, he shook hands with Seo Nam-won and the general manager at the same time, asking for responsibility for poor performance and team management. To make matters worse, coach Kim Sani, who had left the team, was appointed acting coach, which caused a strong backlash from fans. Since then, it has been a state of pouring oil into the boiling public opinion.
Acting Sani Kim sparked controversy by revealing that “there was severe verbal abuse” targeting the departing commander, and afterward, “I will not talk any more for the team and players,” and showed an appearance.
Angry fans even held a ‘truck protest’ to protest the incompetence and inappropriate behavior of the IBK club and the front desk.
IBK is calling for a renewal by seating a sentimental vice-president as the vacant manager, but the situation does not appear to be resolved easily. The club is shutting its ears to the voices of the fans, and the fan sentiment has long since cooled.
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| GS Caltex manager Cha Sang-hyun. (Provided by Korea Volleyball Federation) © News 1 |
On the 27th, ahead of the GS Caltex-IBK IBK match, coach Sang-hyun Cha refused to shake hands with Sani Kim. Rather than simply the personal opinion of the commander, it was a cross section of how serious and concerned the entire volleyball world was looking at this situation.
An official said, “I don’t think coach Cha’s refusal to shake hands happened suddenly.” “The volleyball players are very dissatisfied with the irresponsible and irrational (IBK) behavior of constantly changing their words and shifting the blame to the former manager who has left.” said
Coach Cha Sang-hyeon’s words, “Unknowingly and unknowingly, I and the players are being harmed” represent everything. Coach Cha expressed his regret, saying, “The first thing I see every morning is a volleyball player, but now there are so many bad articles that I start with other things.”
In addition, OK Financial Group, which placed 3rd in the men’s division last season, continues to see damage rather than damage because it played on the same day as IBK (3rd place in the women’s division in the 2020-21 season).
According to the V-League schedule, teams with the same ranking will play on the same day based on last season’s ranking. For example, Korean Air-GS Caltex (1st place last season) and Woori Card-Heungkuk Life Insurance (2nd place) play games on the same day.
The unfortunate situation is repeated, with articles beginning with ‘On the other hand, OK Financial Group for men’ after IBK-related articles.
A club official sighed, “It’s a very interesting situation for fans to see because of the fierce ranking battle, but it seems that the whole volleyball world is viewed negatively because of the IBK issue.”
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| Jinwook Seok, Director of OK Financial Group. (Provided by Korea Volleyball Federation) © News 1 |
Another club official also pointed out, “Hyundai E&C’s 32 points (11 wins) in 11 matches is a huge issue, but it is not properly illuminated because of IBK. Everyone is suffering because of IBK’s nuisance.”
IBK said it would come up with a plan for renewal, such as appointing a new manager and reorganizing the club. Setter Jo Song-hwa, who left, requested disciplinary action from the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) Reward and Punishment Committee, and promised to settle the issue of paying the remaining salary of former coach Seo Nam-won.
Although the situation remains to be seen, many volleyball players are concerned that the incident will cast a cold water on the popularity of professional volleyball, which has risen sharply since the Tokyo Olympics.
alexei@news1.kr
