[Official] Guo Myung-woo, who concealed domestic violence and drunk driving, has truly returned! His voluntary release was lifted after two years, and his player registration is complete... OK Savings Bank: "This is a last chance; immediate dismissal if it recurs"

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Setter Guo Myung-woo (35), whose professional career was considered effectively over after he failed to inform his team of domestic violence and drunk driving incidents, has returned as a pro volleyball player after more than two years. OK Savings Bank decided to give him a final chance with an annual salary of 40 million won, and the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) officially announced the lifting of his voluntary release and his player registration.

On the 10th, KOVO announced the lifting of Guo Myung-woo's voluntary release and his player registration for the 2026~2027 season in accordance with Article 15 (Registration of Voluntarily Released Players) of the Player Registration Regulations.

Guo Myung-woo was registered with jersey number 2 as a setter. His annual salary is 40 million won, with no additional options. This marks his return to professional volleyball player status after two years and five months since his voluntary release in June 2024.

Previously, OK Savings Bank released an official statement on the same day explaining the background of its decision to allow Guo Myung-woo's return and its future management policies. OK Savings Bank stated, "We bow our heads and deeply apologize to volleyball fans, KOVO officials, and everyone who loves Korean volleyball for the disappointment and concern caused by player Guo Myung-woo's past disgraceful conduct and the process of concealing it." It added, "The team also fully recognizes its responsibility for inadequacies in managing the roster and preventing such disgraceful incidents."

Guo Myung-woo is a setter who joined OK Savings Bank as the first pick in the second round of the rookie draft for the 2013~2014 season. He contributed to the team's back-to-back championship titles in the 2014~2015 and 2015~2016 seasons, and also helped secure a runner-up finish in the 2023~2024 season by appearing in 126 sets across 34 matches.

However, controversy erupted when it was revealed that he had received a guilty verdict in May 2024 for violating the Act on the Protection of Communications Secrets and for assault. Guo Myung-woo faced trial on charges of secretly attempting to record conversations between his wife and another person and of assaulting his wife. On appeal, he was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence, a one-year suspension of qualifications, and ordered to complete 40 hours of domestic violence treatment lectures.

Furthermore, it was later revealed that he had received a fine for drunk driving in 2021. In particular, it was confirmed that Guo Myung-woo failed to inform the team of the relevant legal proceedings, thereby violating his duty as a player to disclose such matters.

The impact was significant. A trade in which OK Savings Bank had agreed to send Guo Myung-woo to Hyundai Capital in exchange for Cha Young-seok and a first-round pick in the rookie draft fell through in April 2024. KOVO held a disciplinary committee meeting on May 31 of the same year and imposed a one-year suspension of qualifications on Guo Myung-woo. Subsequently, Guo Myung-woo applied for voluntary release, which the team accepted, effectively setting him on the path to retirement.

However, after more than two years had passed, OK Savings Bank allowed his return. OK Savings Bank explained, "Guo Myung-woo has faithfully fulfilled legal procedures during this period and has deeply reflected on his mistakes and spent time in self-restraint during the voluntary release period of over two years." It added, "He has conveyed to the team a strong will to serve society and atone for the controversy he caused solely through volleyball as a player."

OK Savings Bank revealed the background of its push for his return, stating, "After long discussions and deliberation, we decided that permanent expulsion was not the only answer. We have chosen to provide Guo Myung-woo, who has devoted his life exclusively to volleyball, with a 'final chance' to repent in society based on thorough self-restraint and reflection."

However, strict conditions were attached to his return. Guo Myung-woo's annual salary was set at 40 million won, the league minimum. The team has stated that if any further controversy arises, such as a violation of the duty to maintain decorum, his player qualifications will be immediately revoked and his contract terminated.

The team announced that it would use this incident as an opportunity to comprehensively overhaul its roster ethics education and risk management system from scratch, and to guide and manage the roster with even stricter moral standards.

With KOVO's official announcement on the 10th, Guo Myung-woo's player registration process was completed. However, the team has not yet announced a specific date for his match debut or his schedule for joining the roster.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original