‘Volleyball Empress’ Kim Yeon-kyung (35) will wear a pink uniform for the next season (2023-24).
Women’s professional volleyball FA (free agent) biggest player Kim Yeon-kyung stayed with Heungkuk Life Insurance. The Heungkuk Life Volleyball Team announced on the 16th that they had signed a one-year contract with FA Kim Yeon-kyung for 775 million won (annual salary of 475 million won and an option of 300 million won). Kim Yeon-kyung, who failed to ascend the throne in the 2022-23 season, decides to remain as a Heungkuk Life Insurance franchise player and again challenges to the top in Incheon (Hungkuk Life Insurance). She even kept the position of “salary queen” for two consecutive seasons by signing the upper limit of the female division’s remuneration. 온라인바카라
Kim Yeon-kyung said, “I had a lot of thoughts because it was my first free agent. The coach’s plan for the (next) season was the biggest reason for deciding to stay. The cheers of the fans who filled 6,000 people last season are still vivid. I really want to lift the championship cup next season. I would like to express my gratitude to Heungkuk Life Insurance for giving me a lot of consideration in the meantime. “
Director Abondanza also said, “As a volleyball player, Kim Yeon-kyung is good for the team in many areas, not only technically but also mentally. A player who has an impact I am happy to be with you in the future.
” I would be lying if I said I had no idea. When he’s at the top, he has a desire to step down,” the report said.
Afterwards, Kim Yeon-kyung spared her words when she received more attention for her future than the performance of her team (Heungkuk Life Insurance). After the victory over Korea Expressway Corporation (score 3-0) on February 23, when new manager Marcello Abondanza played his first match, he said, “Now I hope there will be no more talk about my retirement.”
Kim Yeon-kyung participated in 34 regular league games and ranked 1st (45.76%) in overall attack (attack success rate) and 5th in scoring (669 points). Although he is 36 years old in our age, he is still a player with top-notch skills. However, the dominant view was that he would not have hinted at the possibility of retirement publicly to the extent of just worrying.
There was also a prediction that the championship match between Heungkuk Life Insurance and Korea Expressway Corporation (Highway Corporation) (champion match, 3 wins in 5 matches)) would be the last stage for Kim Yeon-kyung to play as a player.
Kim Yeon-kyung predicted an extension of her career as a player. Heungkuk Life Insurance won the regular league championship and after taking enough rest, went to the championship game, but gave the championship trophy to Expressway Corporation with a series record of 2 wins and 3 losses. After the 5th game on the 6th, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “Many people want me to play more.
At the ‘2022-2023 V-League Awards Ceremony’ held on the 10th, Kim Yeon-kyung rose to the regular league best player (MVP) unanimous vote (31 votes by reporters). It was the fifth award of his personal career. On this day, he confirmed, “I decided to extend his playing career.” He continued, “I want to win the unification next year (next season). I’m trying to choose a team that can achieve this.”
Initially, Kim Yeon-kyung’s destination was expected to be Hyundai E&C. It is a team that dominated first place in the 2022-23 season until it was shaken by injuries one after another. League representative middle blocker (center) Yang Hyo-jin, who is close to Kim Yeon-kyung, was also playing.
However, the salary was a stumbling block. The total compensation for the women’s division is 2.8 billion won (salary cap 1.9 billion won, option cap 600 million won, victory award 300 million won). The maximum annual salary that a player can receive (25% salary cap, 50% option cap) is 775 million won. There was a prospect that it would be difficult for Hyundai E&C, which has many high-income earners, to match this amount.
Before the free agent market opened, the possibility of Kim Yeon-kyung remaining at Heungkuk Life Insurance seemed low. The club conveyed to Kim Yeon-kyung its will to strengthen his power by reinforcing the weak setter and center free agent. In fact, I had a meeting with center Kim Soo-ji, a former national team member.
It is rumored that director Abondanza also actively persuaded Kim Yeon-kyung to stay. At the awards ceremony on the 10th, director Abondanza took a bouquet of flowers to Kim Yeon-kyung, who won the Best 7 MVP, and went up to the podium twice to impress.
Considering both the goal of winning and the realistic contract conditions, Kim Yeon-kyung closed the negotiation window with Hyundai E&C, coordinated the detailed conditions with Heungkuk Life Insurance, and reported the news of the contract that day.
As Kim Yeon-kyung decides where to go, the contracts of other free agents such as Park Jung-ah are also expected to flow rapidly.