Why must the victim be the one to make a statement first? An ironic situation unfolded where the victim apologized while the perpetrator remained silent.

Gwangju FC won 1-0 against Gimcheon Sangmu in the 12th round of the 2025 Hana Bank K League1, held at Gwangju World Cup Stadium on the 5th. The incident occurred after the first half. Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo stormed onto the field and harshly reprimanded Oh Hu-seong, leading to an incident where he pushed with both hands.

Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo appeared to have lost his composure, resembling a drunk person. It was a disturbing scene where fellow players tried to stop the coach.

The reason was that he did not properly execute the play instructed by Oh Hu-seong. After the match, Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo further noted, "I am willing to tarnish my image to train the players," making a statement that could be interpreted as results-oriented.

After the match, Oh Hu-seong said during a broadcast interview, "I suggested creating penetrative situations, but it seems that (I) created many situations where I received the ball, which made the coach angry. Afterward, the coach hugged me," and he even apologized.

The match was held on Children's Day. Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo caused the incident just an hour after he stated he would be a role model for the fans. Even if a coach is protective of their players, using raised voices and violence in front of many witnesses cannot be justified.

If Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo had complaints or instructions about the game, he could have done so in the locker room among Gwangju insiders. The fact that it happened in front of everyone on the screen was the biggest problem.

Naturally, criticism toward Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo grew. While opinions may vary, public sentiment turned against him, despite his popularity for leading Gwangju's success in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) Champions League.

A coach scolding a player is somewhat acceptable. However, it is unacceptable for a coach tostorm onto the field, shout at a player, and push them in front of cameras where the public can see. If it were a reprimand, it should have at least occurred in the locker room, a space exclusive to the team.

Despite this situation, Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo remains silent. On the other hand, Oh Hu-seong, who is closer to being the victim, was the first to make a statement. He explained, "Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo and I acknowledged our mistakes regarding this incident and had a lot of discussions. The reason for the delay in my statement was that I needed time to think and organize my thoughts."

He continued, "After the game, we both apologized, and since emotions were raw, we agreed to talk later. Still, we had a good conversation, and Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo apologized first. I was grateful, and we wrapped up our discussion on team goals, areas for improvement, and the direction we should take. "

The victim, Oh Hu-seong, posted an apology and statement first. He said, "I do not think this incident will simply be overlooked just because it has ended. This match was held on Children's Day, and it was a match many soccer fans were watching during the holiday, so presenting a better image was crucial, and I feel really disappointed to have shown such a poor performance. I am sorry."

Regardless of Oh Hu-seong's position, Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo and Gwangju have not made an official statement. They seem to be shielding themselves behind the victim while maintaining silence. This cannot end with Oh Hu-seong's apology; if Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo is a true leader and head coach, he should have been the first to make a statement and protect the players.

As Oh Hu-seong said, his apology does not erase Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo's wrongdoing. Clearly, it would have been right for the perpetrator, Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo, to either issue an apology first before Oh Hu-seong made his statement or for Gwangju to clarify its stance, but they chose to remain silent, continuing to evade the incident.

Meanwhile, the Professional Football League stated in a phone call with OSEN, "We heard about Head Coach Lee Jeong-hyo's behavior from the match observer at that time. We have requested an official report from the Gwangju club." It added, "We plan to assess the situation based on the report and decide whether to refer the case to the disciplinary committee."

[OSEN]