Kim Ye Ji, South Korea’s viral shooting star from the 2024 Paris Olympics, has stepped back from her athletic career. In a recent announcement, Kim shared that she has resigned from her team at Imsil County Hall to focus on family, though further reports reveal that online harassment has also impacted her decision.
Official Resignation from Imsil County Hall
On November 6, 2024, Kim’s management agency, PLFIL, confirmed her resignation. They shared that with no upcoming competitions scheduled until April 2025, Kim had chosen to step down early from her contract.
“Kim Ye Ji has terminated her contract with her team at Imsil County Hall,” PLFIL announced, noting that her last official commitment was at the recent National Sports Festival.
According to Imsil County Hall, Kim submitted her resignation on October 16, 2024, expressing her desire to prioritize family and focus on parenting.
“I’m putting a pin in my journey as an Olympic medalist. I’m going to focus on spending time with my child, fully embracing my role as a mother. I hope this break will be seen as a process for my growth and as fuel for further development as a shooter,” Kim shared in her statement.
Additional Struggles with Online Harassment
While Kim cited personal reasons, the Korean news outlet Chosun Ilbo reported that Kim’s decision also stemmed from the emotional toll of malicious comments and social media harassment. A representative from PLFIL shared insights with No Cut News:
“The decision for Kim Ye Ji to take a leave from her athletic career was not solely for parenting. Kim Ye Ji has been struggling a lot due to malicious comments. It seems that, for this reason, she felt the need for a break. Despite how she acts, Kim Ye Ji is actually very sensitive. Although she has many supporters, there have been people causing her distress, asking her for money and harassing her via social media DMs.”
Continued Engagement with Shooting
Despite her hiatus, PLFIL confirmed that Kim Ye Ji will remain active in promoting shooting as a sport. On November 1, 2024, Kim became Tesla Korea’s first ambassador, marking her ongoing involvement in the sport even while taking a step back from competitive shooting.
To know the latest developments about Kim Ye Ji, keep an eye on VvipTimes, and allow notifications from us to get instant updates on your device.
Source: Insight, Chosun Ilbo and Vogue Korea
