Volleyball coach under scrutiny for misconduct claims in a committee hearing for women's team.
In the world of South Korean volleyball, the focus has shifted from the court to the sidelines, as Kim Jong-min, head coach of the Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass women's volleyball team, faces serious allegations of verbal abuse, threatening behavior, and workplace bullying.
The sports community has been abuzz since February 2025, when a criminal complaint was filed against Kim, accusing him of assault and bullying. An investigation by the Sports Ethics Center found that his conduct, including shouting verbal abuse, pushing a coach, and implying dismissal, constituted psychological intimidation and abuse of power. As a result, Kim has been referred to the Korea Volleyball Federation’s disciplinary committee, which is scheduled to convene in late August 2025 to address the matter.
Despite the ongoing investigation, Kim was seen on the sidelines coaching a V League women's match against the Gwangju AI Peppers on November 22, 2024, at Pepper Stadium in Seo District, Gwangju. The match, which was photographed by YONHAP, did not seem to be affected by any unusual or non-standard conditions, and there was no information available regarding its result.
The Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass team, which relocated to Gimcheon in 2015-16, has faced challenges settling in but continues to compete as a public company’s team. However, recent performance data specifically for Kim Jong-min or his coaching impact in the 2024-25 or 2025-26 V-League seasons could not be found in the available search results. The latest coaching roster information from the 2025-26 season lists other senior and assistant coaches but does not explicitly mention Kim Jong-min's active coaching role, possibly related to the ongoing disciplinary issues.
As the investigation into Kim Jong-min's conduct continues, the future of his coaching career and the Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass team remains uncertain. The team's performance under his leadership, while not the focus at the moment, will undoubtedly be a topic of interest once the investigation concludes.
The sports community and culture in South Korea are watching closely as the future of Kim Jong-min, former head coach of the Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-Pass women's volleyball team, hangs in the balance. His alleged conduct, including verbal abuse and workplace bullying, has raised questions about the standards and ethics in sports management.
