Kim Yeon-koung, who was named MVP for three consecutive years as soon as she debuted in the 2005-2006 season, won her fourth MVP in her first season (2020-2021 season) after finishing her overseas career.
After a while in the Chinese league, he returned after a year and swept the regular league MVP for two consecutive seasons.
As the saying goes, "A player who has never come out once in 100 years," no player has come out against Kim Yeon-koung even after 20 years.
This is why Kim Yeon-koung's decision to postpone retirement and challenge for the integrated championship and seventh MVP leaves a bitter aftertaste.
In the 2023-2024 season, Kim Yeon-koung said, "I'm physically challenged. It's different from what I used to be," but she ranked sixth (775 points), second in attack success rate (44.98 percent), fifth in receptions (42.46% efficiency), and eighth in defense (5.557 per set).
Except for Kim Yeon-koung, Yang Hyo-jin (9th) of Hyundai Engineering & Construction and Kang So-hwi (10th) of GS Caltex are the only Korean players who ranked in the top 10 in score and attack success rate. The rest are either foreigners or Asian quarterfinalists.
Kim Yeon-kyung, who expressed her intention to extend her active duty at the V League awards ceremony on the 8th, is also aware of this irony.
"I think it's a little funny that a player who is about to retire is trying to win a team title and an individual championship. I don't think it's a good match," Kim told reporters.
"I hope there will be more competitors around domestic players next year," he said, adding, "If I try not to fall behind there, we will be able to develop each other."
Kim Yeon-kyung continues to devote herself to the Korean volleyball team because she hopes for the growth and development of domestic players.
Kim Yeon-kyung pointed out in her acceptance speech for MVP, "We are playing a quality league through the Asian quarter and the foreign player system, but all volleyball players should come together and work hard to see how Korean volleyball can do well."
"If interest in the national team decreases, there is no future for the V-League and Korean volleyball. The V-League can be developed only when the national team's performance is given priority," Kim said in an interview.
Recently, Kim Yeon-koung invited Kim Hyun-soo (36, LG Twins), a professional baseball player of the same age, to his YouTube channel for an interview.
At the time, Kim advised Kim Yeon-koung, "When you clap, don't leave. If you just leave your seat, your juniors will think you're lazy."
When asked what she thought about it, Kim laughed and joked, "I can't really relate. Volleyball players are more active than baseball players," before responding, "Of course, I respect that opinion because individuals want different things."
BY: 스포츠토토핫