Setter and ace An Hye-jin of the women's pro volleyball team GS Caltex was left off the women's national team call-up list after it became known that police booked her on suspicion of drunk driving. Additional heavy discipline at the level of the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) is also expected.
According to police on the 18th, An Hye-jin was booked by police for drunk driving on the 16th and was questioned. The exact circumstances of the drinking and her blood alcohol concentration were not confirmed.
The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) plans to convene a reward and punishment committee early next week to decide the level of disciplinary action against An Hye-jin.
Under the current federation's reward and punishment rules, in cases corresponding to Article 10, Paragraph 1 (sex crimes, violence, drunk driving, gambling, etc.), penalties range from a warning to expulsion, and fines of at least 5 million won are imposed.
The level of discipline will likely be decided by comprehensively considering the degree of intoxication, whether there was an accident, and the individual's explanation, but it is expected to be difficult for her to avoid heavy punishment.
In pro volleyball, there have been no cases of discipline for drunk driving alone, so it is highly likely the federation will apply the rules and precedents from other sports.
In pro soccer, Player A, who was caught drunk driving in June this year, received a 15-match K League suspension and a fine of 4 million won.
In pro basketball, Player B, who caused an accident while drunk driving in May 2021, was suspended for 27 regular-season games and fined 7 million won, among other penalties. The club also issued its own discipline separate from the league: a 54-game suspension, a fine of 10 million won, and 240 hours of community service.
An Hye-jin is currently excluded from the women's national team call-up pool. Under the Korea Volleyball Association's regulations on national team selection and operation, a person who received a fine of less than 5 million won in connection with drunk driving and for whom two years have not passed is not to be selected for the national team. Head coach Cha Sang-hyun was also said to have requested An's exclusion.
An Hye-jin delivered strong performances this season, including leading her club to the title, and was expected to significantly increase her market value later as a free agent (FA).