Korean women’s volleyball’s ‘icon’ Kim Yeon-kyung (35) is struggling with her next destination. After her pro debut in the 2005-06 season, Kim Yeon-kyung, who belatedly earned her free agent status this year, is paying keen attention to her decision to drop her.
Kim Yeon-kyung, who signed a contract with Heungkuk Life Insurance for the highest fee of 700 million won (450 million won in annual salary and 250 million won in options) last season, ranked 1st in overall attack, 1st in time difference, 2nd in quick open, and 4th in open in the regular league. Climbing on his back, he paid for his name. Furthermore, thanks to the ‘Kim Yeon-kyung effect’, cloud spectators flocked to Incheon Samsan Gymnasium of Heungkuk Life Insurance, which was the home stadium.
After 1st place in the regular league, Kim Yeon-kyung, who unfortunately lost to Korea Expressway Corporation and failed to achieve her dream of winning, is contemplating options after obtaining FA qualification. She is naturally considered the biggest player in the FA market.
After the award ceremony, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “I want to go to a team that can win,” and according to the ‘News 1’ coverage, 4 to 5 teams, including the original club Heungkuk Life Insurance, put offers to Kim Yeon-kyung.
Standing at the crossroads of choice, Kim Yeon-kyung seems to be struggling with two paths: staying at Heungkuk Life Insurance and transferring.
In the volleyball world, Kim Yeon-kyung picks Hyundai E&C, which ranked first in the regular league in the 2021-22 season, as the team with the most transfer in mind.
After the opening of the 2022-23 season, Hyundai E&C cruised, winning 15 consecutive wins, but was eliminated after losing 2 consecutive losses to Expressway Corporation in the playoffs due to overlapping bad news such as injuries to foreign players. In the 2021-22 season, despite the tremendous achievement of 28 wins and 3 losses, it was a great regret that the postseason was not held due to the Corona 19 incident, so the desire to win is hotter than any other team.
Hyundai E&C, which is lined with national team players such as Yang Hyo-jin, Jeong Ji-yoon, Da-hyun Lee, and Da-in Kim, has the possibility of standing in the first round next season at once if Kim Yeon-kyung joins.
In addition, Heungkuk Life Insurance, the original club with coach Marcello Abondanza (Italy), also strongly wants Kim Yeon-kyung to remain. It is known that coach Abondanza, who has a relationship since the days of Türkiye Fenerbahce, shared his future plans through a recent meeting with Kim Yeon-kyung and strongly requested that he remain with the team. 안전놀이터
In addition to Kim Yeon-kyung, Bae You-na, Park Jeong-ah (Korea Expressway Corporation), and Hwang Min-kyung (Hyundai E&C) are also attracting attention from the market. It is also eye-catching whether Pepper Savings Bank, which caught both Hanbi Lee and Oh Ji-young, the ‘rabbit’, can play a big role in the FA market this time.
In any case, it seems that a conclusion will come out sooner or later because contracts with the rest of the FA players can be concluded only when the destination of Kim Yeon-kyung, the biggest fish, is decided.