"Bar Hostess?" "Obsessed with Exposure?" Jieun Shin Overcomes Online Abuse to Secure First Asian Games Beach Volleyball Win

Spotlight on Her Story of Overcoming Online Criticism and the Challenges of a Non-Mainstream Sport

Jieun Shin, the 25-year-old national beach volleyball player who had faced excessive criticism over wearing a bikini uniform, secured her first victory at the Asian Games.

Jieun Shin, National Beach Volleyball Player. Instagram Capture

On the 22nd, partnering with Kim Jeonga, Jieun Shin pulled off a come-from-behind win in the second match of Group D in the preliminary round of the 2026 Aichi·Nagoya Asian Games, held at the Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court in Japan. The pair defeated the Malaysian duo, Goh Yuheng and Rachel Yu Jie, with a set score of 2-1 (21-23, 21-15, 18-16). This marked their first victory after losing to Thailand in the opening match.

Recently, Jieun Shin appeared on the entertainment program "Ask Anything" and explained, "There is no rule requiring beach volleyball players to wear bikinis—it's a choice." She added, "But I consider it both a tradition and stylish." She confessed, "However, some people ask if I have an 'obsession with exposure' or say I 'look like a bar hostess.'" Seo Janghoon, the program host and former basketball national team member, encouraged her by saying, "Don't pay attention to such absurd nonsense."

Jieun Shin inherited her talent from her mother, a former professional volleyball team player, and started indoor volleyball as an outside hitter in fifth grade. However, after experiencing a slump in her third year of high school, she switched to beach volleyball following a friend's recommendation.

Nonetheless, each overseas competition required her to cover expenses of around 6 million to 7 million won, so she had to work as a sports instructor and at a hamburger shop to raise funds. At the 2023 Hangzhou Asian Games, she lost all four matches, and her playing partner changed nine times over eight years, leading her to even consider retirement.

Afterward, her match videos started gaining attention on social media, leading to sponsorship opportunities and enabling her to wear the national team badge once again. Overcoming the difficulties and misunderstandings associated with a less popular sport, the duo of Jieun Shin and Kim Jeonga has made headlines by advancing to the round of 16 for the first time in Korean women's beach volleyball history at this tournament.

Japanese media also highlighted her story. Outlets in Japan reported, "Although Jieun Shin has faced many challenges both on and off the court, since gaining sponsors, she is able to continue her career without inconvenience."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.