"Are people in Busan easy to fool?" Fan outrage over the return of a setter with a history of domestic violence and drunk driving... OK Savings Bank's "last chance" — for whom is it really?

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I would rather we just played happy volleyball among ourselves, without any criminals. What is wrong is simply wrong."

This was a comment posted by a fan on the official social media page of the OK Savings Bank Oummen men's professional volleyball team. OK Savings Bank, which relocated from Ansan to Busan last year citing market expansion potential, faced backlash from fans after deciding to bring back setter Gwak Myung-woo (35), who has a history of domestic violence and drunk driving.

The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced on the 10th, in accordance with Article 15 of its player registration regulations, the lifting of Gwak's voluntary release status and his player registration for the 2026~2027 season. His annual salary is set at the minimum amount of 40 million won. This marks his return after two years and five months since his voluntary release in June 2024.

In 2024, Gwak Myung-woo faced trial on charges of attempting to secretly record conversations between his wife and another person, and of causing injury to his wife. In the appellate court, he was sentenced to six months in prison with a one-year suspended sentence, along with a one-year suspension of qualifications. He was also ordered to complete 40 hours of domestic violence treatment lectures. Despite reaching an agreement with the victim and receiving petitions for leniency, he could not avoid a guilty verdict.

Furthermore, it came to light that he had received a fine for drunk driving in 2021 but had not informed the club. The trade agreed upon between OK Savings Bank and Hyundai Capital at the time was also called off. KOVO imposed a one-year suspension on Gwak Myung-woo on May 31, 2024, after which Gwak applied for voluntary release and left the court.

OK Savings Bank reached out to Gwak Myung-woo once again. The club explained, "Permanent expulsion is not the only answer. We have decided to offer player Gwak Myung-woo, who has devoted his entire life to volleyball, a 'last chance' to repent in society based on thorough self-reflection and remorse."

Of course, the return itself does not violate any regulations. He has received legal punishment, and KOVO's disciplinary period has ended. One cannot deny the act of giving an opportunity for rehabilitation to a player who has made mistakes.

The issue lies in what criteria were used to judge the "thorough self-reflection and remorse" emphasized by the club. The club stated that Gwak Myung-woo had deeply reflected on his wrongdoings and conveyed his will to atone through volleyball. However, specific explanations regarding the procedures used to verify that reflection and self-restraint were not included in the statement, leaving fans with no way of knowing.

Judging a player's remorse and granting them another opportunity is within the club's authority. However, the burden of that decision is shared by the fans as well. The decision to grant a "last chance" without sufficient explanation or disclosure of a convincing verification process could easily be perceived as a unilateral absolution granted by the club to the player.

The "strict preconditions" set by the club also raise questions. They stated that they would pay the minimum annual salary of 40 million won and immediately terminate the contract if additional controversies, such as violations of the duty to maintain dignity, arise in the future. However, the minimum salary is a contractual condition, and termination upon recurrence is a response policy for future issues. These are separate matters from the criteria for judging whether past wrongdoings have been sufficiently reflected upon.

The club promised that it would use this incident as an opportunity to comprehensively reorganize its player ethics education and risk management system, and to manage the team with even stricter moral standards.

However, a club that failed to even grasp the legal issues of past players has decided to allow the same player's return. This could be interpreted as a message that opportunities can be granted again based on the club's tactical needs and judgment, even for players with histories of domestic violence and drunk driving. In this situation, it is difficult to resolve fans' doubts merely by promising strengthened ethics education and strict moral standards.

Fans are raising questions at precisely this point. On OK Savings Bank's official social media, protests such as "Do people in Busan look easy to fool?" and "Please refund my membership" have followed one after another. Another fan criticized the decision to give Gwak Myung-woo a chance at rehabilitation, who has been out of actual competition for over two years, instead of nurturing young players, stating, "Give opportunities only to those picked in the draft."

There were also reactions that valued the team's principles over victory. One fan questioned whether they should have to accept such a decision after having supported the team while enduring membership purchases and seat price increases. Another fan expressed concern that the club could suffer a negative image due to the return of a player with a history of violence.

For the club, performance and team management may be important tasks. However, fans do not support a team based on performance alone. This reaction shows that, regardless of wins or losses, fans consider it important who plays for their supported team and what values the club pursues. For some fans, supporting the team itself has become a burdensome situation.

These reactions prompt a reflection on the achievements OK Savings Bank has built in Busan. Last year, the club cited market expansion and strengthening self-sufficiency as reasons for leaving Ansan, where it had been based for 12 years, and relocating to Busan. In fact, in its first season in Busan, the 2025~2026 season, it achieved sold-out crowds for all weekend home games and a total attendance of 60,017. This is an increase of 119.02% compared to its final season in Ansan.

Fans responded by cheering for the club, which had settled into its new home base, from the stands. The trust of these newly acquired fans is an important asset that the club must protect. From the fans' perspective, it is reasonable to question how much their support and affection over the years were considered in this decision.

There were also communication issues with fans when leaving Ansan last year. At the time, the club evaluated it as a "beautiful farewell," stating that officials from Ansan City had supported its new growth. However, among Ansan fans who first learned of the relocation news through media reports, reactions expressing a sense of betrayal emerged. Although the club said it had communicated in advance with some membership fans, many fans had to learn about the push for relocation through reports first.

Relocation and player return are matters of different natures. However, the question remains common: whether the club sufficiently considered what position fans would be placed in regarding its major decisions.

There is no reason to deny the possibility that Gwak Myung-woo may be sincerely reflecting. Currently, there are cases in the V-League where players have continued their careers after various controversies or disciplinary actions. The judgment on whether to allow a return should not be unfairly harsh toward only specific players.

Therefore, this issue should not end as a matter between OK Savings Bank and Gwak Myung-woo alone. The federation must review whether past disciplinary levels were appropriate and whether consistent criteria have been established regarding the return of players whose disciplinary periods have ended, while clubs must inspect their player management and recurrence prevention measures. The media also cannot escape responsibility for whether they have conducted sufficient verification and criticism during the process of players' misconduct and returns.

OK Savings Bank has decided to give Gwak Myung-woo a "last chance." Now, what the club must answer is on what criteria and procedures that opportunity was granted, and how it will maintain fans' trust. It was the club that decided to allow the return of a player with a history of domestic violence and drunk driving. Similarly, it is for the fans to judge whether they will continue to support that player and the club that took him back.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original