Shin Ji-eun, who secured S. Korea's first win at Asian Games, once opened up about malicious comments over her uniform

As South Korean beach volleyball player Shin Ji-eun secured her first victory at the 20th Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, past remarks she made on a television program about online harassment have resurfaced.

The pair of Shin Ji-eun and Kim Jeong-a defeated Malaysia's Go Yu Heng and Rachel Yujie in the Group D second-round match held Sunday morning (local time) at Hekinan Ryokuchi Beach Court in Japan, winning 2-1 in sets (21-23, 21-15, 18-16).

Having lost to Thailand in their opening match, the two players evened their group-stage record to one win and one loss with the victory.

Born in 2001, Shin played as an outside hitter on a volleyball team during her school years before switching to beach volleyball ahead of the V-League draft.

Shin made her mark on the international stage after competing at the 2019 FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour event in Daegu and gained wider recognition through the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. She served as a beach volleyball commentator at the 2024 Paris Olympics and was later selected for the national team for the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

Shin has consistently drawn attention not only for her athletic ability but also for her looks, with some outlets calling her a standout beauty among athletes. Her profile rose sharply as videos and photos from her matches spread online.

Appearing on KBS Joy's Ask Us Anything on Sept. 14, Shin opened up about the misunderstandings surrounding her uniform and the toll malicious comments had taken on her.

"There's a misconception about beach volleyball — there is actually no rule requiring players to wear bikinis. It's not a regulation; it's a choice," she said. "I think of it as tradition and style. But some people say things like, 'Are you obsessed with showing skin?' or 'You look like a bar girl.'"

Seo Jang-hoon, a panelist on the show, offered her words of support. "Ji-eun, listen carefully. Don't pay any attention to that kind of nonsense. Nobody thinks that way. Normal people don't say things like that when they see you. Don't worry about it," he said, advising her to focus on preparing for the Asian Games rather than dwelling on the hateful comments.