The challenge of Heungkuk Life’s ‘Volleyball Empress’ Kim Yeon-kyung (35), who aimed to win the V-League championship match in 14 seasons after the 2008-2009 season, ended with a ‘sad ending’ to allow the first ever ‘reverse sweep’ win. Now, the attention of the volleyball world and volleyball fans is focused on Kim Yeon-kyung’s future. Although he gave a little hint about ‘extension of active duty’, it seems that he has not yet decided 100%.
On the 6th, after the 5th game of the 2022-2023 V-League Women’s Division Championship between Heungkuk Life Insurance and Road Corporation held at Samsan Gymnasium in Incheon, Kim Yeon-kyung visited the interview room and held a press conference. Usually, the V-League interview process is conducted with the winner, the winner, and the distinguished player selected by the reporters. The fact that Kim Yeon-kyung’s press conference was held even though Heungkuk Life Insurance lost in the game on this day is a point where you can get a glimpse of Kim Yeon-kyung’s attention and his status.토토사이트
Kim Yeon-kyung, who entered the press conference with a calm expression, said, “It is very, very regrettable. A lot of opportunities came until the 5th game…I missed that opportunity and ended up with this result.” It’s too bad that I gave up the third set 23-19. All 5 sets went by 2 points. I am very sorry for this and that,” he said.
During the season, he revealed that he was “considering retirement,” and immediately after his game impressions, questions about his future arose. Kim Yeon-kyung said, “I am talking with many people about the extension of my active duty and retirement,” but “A lot of fans came to support me in today’s game. I can’t help but think about the existence of the fans and how grateful they are. Many people, including my parents and family, want me to run more. I think about it and try to make a decision,” he said.
Losing the game that day, missing the overall championship and staying in the runner-up was a factor that made Kim Yeon-kyung hesitate to retire. Regarding the point of worrying about her retirement and extension of the current performance, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “It is because she did not win,” but she said, “If she won, it is not like that. Today, she says her lack of championships motivates her to extend her career. It is difficult for me to decide whether or not to retire by myself. She has multiple thoughts,” she replied.
Kim Yeon-kyung’s decision to extend his active duty is expected to be confirmed soon. Kim Yeon-kyung gets the first free agent (FA) qualification on the Korean stage. After debuting in the 2005-2006 season, Kim Yeon-kyung, who played in Korea until the 2008-2009 season, played in overseas leagues such as Japan, Turkey, and China, combining the last 2020-2021 season and this season to finally fill six seasons for FA qualification. For Hyun-yeon, she has to complete negotiations in the free agency market, which opens on the 9th, three days after the women’s championship game. Kim Yeon-kyung said, “The process of filling the 6th season was long. At the age of 35 she filled six seasons. The fact that she became a free agent is itself miraculous. It’s hard to explain what the feeling is. Maybe it’s because it’s right after losing, so it’s calm.”
If Kim Yeon-kyung chooses to extend her active career, she lost this championship match, but since it was confirmed that Kim Yeon-kyung’s personal skills are still at the highest level in active life, all six clubs, including her original team, Heungkuk Life Insurance, are coveted players as long as the salary cap allows. . Kim Yeon-kyung also said, “I will talk with the original club Heungkuk Life Insurance, and the possibility of negotiating with other clubs is open. I will think positively,” he said.
However, there is also an eye to whether he will sign an FA contract with Heungkuk Life Insurance, the original team. For Kim Yeon-kyung, Heungkuk Life Insurance is his family’s team that gave him a taste of the professional stage for the first time, but in the past and present, he bumped into Kim Yeon-kyung several times and made it difficult.
First, there was a sharp confrontation over FA qualifications. Kim Yeon-kyung, who made her professional debut at Heungkuk Life Insurance in the 2005-2006 season, played four seasons and moved to Japan on loan, played two seasons in Japan before moving to the Turkiye stage. In the process, he had a conflict with Heungkuk Life Insurance over whether he had qualified for free agency. The issue was whether his rental period could be recognized as a season that satisfies FA qualifications. At the time, Kim Yeon-kyung even hung the Taegeuk mark, saying, “If FA qualification is not recognized, I will retire from the national team.” In the end, under the judgment of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB), Kim Yeon-kyung was recognized as having played only four seasons in the domestic league, and his original team remained as Heungkuk Life Insurance. In the process, Kim Yeon-kyung couldn’t have been hurt.
Nevertheless, when he returned to Korea, Kim Yeon-kyung had to return to Heungkuk Life Insurance. In the 2020-2021 season, when Corona 19 was in full swing to prepare for the Tokyo Olympics, Kim Yeon-kyung made a comeback with Heungkuk Life Insurance after 12 seasons on the V-League stage. With the return of Kim Yeon-kyung and Lee Da-young joining as a free agent, Heungkuk Life Insurance was on a winning streak with the power of Kim Yeon-kyung, Lee Jae-young and Lee Da-young’s ‘Big 3’, but when the twin sisters left the court in controversy over school violence, the power gap was large, and eventually GS Caltex Losing to the championship, he stayed in the runner-up.
After going to the Chinese league again, Kim Yeon-kyung returned to Heungkuk Life Insurance ahead of this season. However, after Hungkuk Life Insurance fired coach Kwon Soon-chan, who had been in charge for less than a season, he made absurd explanations such as ‘pointing out the rotation problem of fans’. Kim Yeon-kyung, along with Kim Hae-ran, the most senior member of the team, also refuted the club’s explanation. It seemed to normalize with the appointment of coach Marcello Abondanza, but he became the victim of the road construction’s first ever ‘reverse sweep’ victory, and the championship championship in 14 seasons was again in vain.
Although Kim Yeon-kyung did not reveal a firm will to extend his active career, the calculation method for the 7 clubs also became complicated, suggesting that he would continue his playing career to some extent. First of all, for Heungkuk Life Insurance, shaking off the past with Kim Yeon-kyung and leaving it behind became the biggest goal of this’Air Conditioning League’.
If Kim Yeon-kyung comes to the market after negotiations with Heungkuk Life Insurance break down, the FA market is expected to fluctuate. Although she is already in her late 30s, Kim Yeon-kyung is a player who can serve as an ace in both offense and defense, with the highest level of offense and receiving ability that rivals that of a libero. Here, the power of fan mobilization is unmatched. In the regular season of the V-League this season, the women’s division sold out 19 times, and 17 of them were Heungkuk Life Insurance matches. Except for the first match in the championship match, the remaining four matches were sold out. Regardless of whether it is home or away, almost all games featuring Kim Yeon-kyung are sold out.
In this air conditioner league, big fish players such as Kim Yeon-kyung, Park Jung-ah, Bae Yu-na, and Kim Su-ji are pouring out. If Kim Yeon-kyung signs a free agency contract, it is expected that the destination of the other free agents will change depending on which team Kim Yeon-kyung nests in, as it is expected to hit the maximum limit of 775 million won next season.