"Beach Volleyball Goddess" Shin Ji-eun Proves Her Skills Go Beyond Her Looks, Earns First Win with Kim Jeong-a [Nagoya Asian Games]

[Financial News] The Shin Ji-eun–Kim Jeong-a pair defeated Malaysia in the beach volleyball group stage at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games to claim their first win of the tournament.
Known as the "beach volleyball goddess" and a "pretty-faced athlete," Shin Ji-eun has consistently drawn public attention for both her appearance and competition attire. She recently opened up about the hardships she experienced because of malicious online comments related to them.

South Korea's Shin Ji-eun–Kim Jeong-a pair defeated Malaysia's Goh Yu Heng–Rachel Yew Jie pair 2-1 (21-23, 21-15, 18-16) in the second Group D match at 10 a.m. on the 20th at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court.
After losing to Thailand in their opening match, the Shin Ji-eun–Kim Jeong-a pair improved their group-stage record to 1-1 with the victory over Malaysia.
The match was closely contested. The Shin Ji-eun–Kim Jeong-a pair fought back with tenacious defense but dropped the first set 21-23. They rallied in the second set with strong spiking and receiving to level the match at 21-15, then maintained their focus late in the third set to close out the match 18-16.
Shin Ji-eun has consistently attracted public attention not only for her performance but also for her appearance. Some media outlets referred to her as a "pretty-faced athlete," and her profile grew as match videos and photos spread online. Shin Ji-eun recently said on KBS Joy's "Ask Us Anything Fortune Teller" that the attention she received online led to a sponsorship, giving her the opportunity to continue her athletic career.
However, the attention surrounding her appearance and competition attire was not always positive. Shin Ji-eun said on the program that misunderstandings about beach volleyball uniforms and malicious comments had hurt her. She explained that wearing a bikini is not mandatory but a choice for each athlete, adding that she considers it part of beach volleyball's tradition and style.

She also faced practical difficulties as an athlete in a less popular sport. Shin Ji-eun said an overseas tournament costs about 6 million to 7 million won, but because sponsorships were difficult to secure, she worked part-time jobs, including as a sports instructor, to cover her travel expenses. The sport's two-player format also created challenges involving partners, and she said her partner changed nine times over eight years.

Shin Ji-eun played as an outside hitter on her school volleyball team and submitted an application for the women's Korean V-League draft. However, she switched to beach volleyball before the draft took place.
She rose to prominence after competing in the 2019 FIVB World Women's Beach Volleyball Tour event in Daegu and later appearing at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. At the 2024 Summer Olympics (Paris 2024), she also worked as a beach volleyball commentator.

[email protected] Han Seung-gon Reporter