Kim Yeon-kyung (35) continues to accompany Heungkuk Life Insurance.
Heungkuk Life Insurance announced on the 16th that it had signed a contract with Kim Yeon-kyung for a total of 775 million won (annual salary of 475 million won, an option of 300 million won) for one year during her contract period.
The fact that her contract was only for one year is interpreted as considering her retirement. Kim Yeon-kyung was contemplating her retirement even during the 2022-2023 season, but changed her mind to extending her active service.
Kim Yeon-kyung, who dreams of a ‘beautiful finish’, seems to have drawn a picture of retiring with her last championship trophy at Heungkuk Life Insurance.스포츠토토
She was with Heungkuk Life Insurance at the beginning and at the end.
Kim Yeon-kyung jumped into the pros wearing a Heungkuk Life Insurance uniform in the 2005-2006 season. Except for his activities in overseas leagues such as Turkey, Japan, and China, Kim Yeon-kyung only wore Heungkuk Life Insurance uniforms in the V-League.
Although they had been together for a long time, it wasn’t just ‘good feelings’.
Kim Yeon-kyung had a sharp confrontation with Heungkuk Life Insurance over her past qualifications to advance overseas.
Kim Yeon-kyung, who played four seasons in the V-League, played an active part in Japan’s JT Marvelous and Turkiye Penarbahce through a loan format. After he finished the 2011-2012 season, he aimed to advance overseas as a free agent (FA).
However, Heungkuk Life Insurance objected, saying that you have to play 6 seasons in Korea to become a free agent, and Kim Yeon-kyung countered, saying that 7 seasons, including rental status, had passed. In the end, Kim Yeon-kyung was able to be recognized as an FA on the overseas stage through the authoritative interpretation of the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB).
Even after returning to Korea and wearing the Heungkuk Life Insurance uniform, the big and small problems continued.
In particular, in January, Heungkuk Life Insurance was embroiled in internal conflict when former manager Kwon Soon-chan was dismissed in a sensitive manner.
At the time, Kim Yeon-kyung revealed the club’s involvement in the appointment of players and expressed discomfort, saying, “There are many situations, but it is difficult to understand now. It is so surprising that I wonder if there is a team like this.”
Because of these twists and turns, the possibility of transferring to another team seemed high even when Kim Yeon-kyung came out to the FA market. The names of clubs that actively jumped into recruiting Kim Yeon-kyung were also mentioned.
However, Kim Yeon-kyung’s choice was Heungkuk Life Insurance.
Kim Yeon-kyung said that her heart was moved by the persuasion of coach Marcello Abondanza, who caught Heungkuk Life Insurance Jawibong at the end of the season. Kim Yeon-kyung explained, “The coach’s plan for the season is a big reason why I made up my mind.”
Kim Yeon-kyung and coach Abondanza formed a relationship as a player and manager at Fenerbahce and won the European Volleyball Federation (CEV) together.
Manager Abondanza welcomed Kim Yeon-kyung’s stay, saying, “As a volleyball player, I think that Kim Yeon-kyung is a player who has a good influence on the team in many areas, including technical as well as mental aspects. I am happy to be able to work with such a player in the future.” .
Heungkuk Life Insurance, who caught Kim Yeon-kyung, is now able to once again challenge the summit, which was unfortunately missed this season. As the first condition of Kim Yeon-kyung’s FA contract was “a team that can win”, Heungkuk Life Insurance is also expected to exert its efforts to challenge supremacy.
While the possibility of recruiting an external FA continues to be raised, there is also a prospect that Kim Su-ji, who is also a close friend of Kim Yeon-kyung, can be brought in additionally.
There is no doubt about Kim Yeon-kyung’s skills.
On the 10th, Kim Yeon-kyung unanimously won the 5th regular league best player (MVP) in his personal career, showing off his still-changing ability. He plans to knock the top next year wearing a ‘pink’ uniform, just as he has shown so far.