Cho launches legal challenge after IBK terminates contract

Cho Song-hwa leaves the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho-gu, southern Seoul on Saturday. [YONHAP]

Former Hwaseong Industrial Bank of Korea Altos player Cho Song-hwa has launched a legal bid to regain her position at the club after her contract was canceled when she walked out on training following an argument with a former head coach.

IBK announced on Dec. 13 that the club had decided to terminate Cho's contract following controversies that had begun on Nov. 12, when Cho stopped turning up for training sessions and games, apparently due to a verbal argument with former head coach Seo Nam-won and in protest of the abusive environment created by Seo.

Following Cho's departure, the IBK sacked Seo on Nov. 21, and assistant coach Kim Sa-ni took over as interim coach. Kim also accused Seo of verbally abusing her, although Seo has since denied all allegations. Kim only lasted three matches at the helm of the volleyball club, resigning on Dec. 2.

Cho's case is the third dispute in the history of KOVO to involve legal counsel. Her hearing took place on Saturday at the Seoul Central District Court in Seocho District, southern Seoul, after she applied for an injunction on Dec. 24 to nullify the termination of her contract and require the club to pay her remaining salary.

Even if her application for an injunction is successful, Cho will not be able to play the rest of the V League season because the deadline for Cho’s registration was Dec. 27 and no club offered her a contract. A legal decision will be made in a week.

IBK on Saturday also made it clear that they stand by their adamant refusal to have Cho on their team. The club stated that Cho had only changed her mind about leaving the team after they sacked Seo, claiming that letting a player like Cho who abruptly stopped turning up to matches join the club would be a threat to its very existence.

Cho’s attorney, on the other hand, claims Cho was not aware of Seo’s replacement when she expressed her intention to return to the club on Dec. 20. Cho claims to have only found out about Seo’s replacement the next day through reports. Cho’s attorney also claims she only skipped training because of an injury which she had notified the coach and staff about.

Meanwhile, the Altos snapped their winless streak at six matches on Saturday, defeating the Incheon Pink Spiders 3-2 to mark the club's first win since new head coach Kim Ho-chul took the helm on Dec. 8.

The top scorer of the match was Katherine Briana "Khat" Bell of the Pink Spiders, scoring 39 points alone. However, the second, third and fourth best scorers of the match were all from the Altos; Pyo Seung-ju scoring 28, Daly Santana Morales scoring 23 and Kim Hee-jin scoring 22 points. IBK are currently sixth, second-to-last on the women’s V League standings.

BY YUN SO-HYANG [yun.sohyang@joongang.co.kr]