“Like a bar girl?” The stunning volleyball star who was bombarded with hateful comments has even won over Japanese media

[Financial News] Shin Ji-eun, a leading Korean beach volleyball star who overcame the pain of a barrage of malicious comments about wearing a bikini as a beach volleyball uniform, has crossed borders to win over Japan as well.
According to Japanese sports outlet THE ANSWER and other foreign media, on the 14th (local time), Shin Ji-eun recently shared photos on social media of herself wearing a bikini, the beach volleyball uniform, against the backdrop of a beach at sunset.
In the released photos, Shin Ji-eun exudes her trademark dreamy yet innocent aura against a sea softly tinted by the sunset. In another photo, she stands on the sand, cradling a volleyball and gazing at the sunset, radiating a captivating charm quite different from her competitive presence on the court.

Japanese fans reacted enthusiastically when the photos were released. Local online users offered glowing praise, saying, “Please release a photobook right away,” “It feels like a scene from a movie,” and “She has a one-of-a-kind charm.” Shin Ji-eun’s social media following quickly surpassed 140,000, demonstrating her global popularity.
After switching from indoor volleyball to beach volleyball on the sand, Shin Ji-eun became a key player for Korean beach volleyball. At the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, she teamed up with Kim Jeong-a to defeat Malaysia and reach the round of 16, among other achievements.

Behind the glamour of the court, she had also endured private pain. Last month, Shin Ji-eun appeared on the KBS Joy variety show *Mueosideun Mureobosal* and candidly spoke about the distorted views of bikini uniforms and the hateful comments she had faced. At the time, she said, “I was just wearing my uniform, but I was subjected to deeply personal attacks like, ‘Are you an exhibitionist?’ and ‘You look like a bar girl,’” prompting sympathy.
Shin Ji-eun stood by her convictions, saying, “The bikini is a traditional beach volleyball uniform, and I chose it myself because I think it looks good.” Fans at home and abroad are pouring out their support for Shin Ji-eun, who has remained undeterred by criticism steeped in prejudice and hatred and confidently proved her sportsmanship and appeal.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter