‘World Star’ Kim Yeon-kyung (35), who is leading the box office success of the women’s professional volleyball team, expressed deep disappointment toward her team, Heungkuk Life Insurance Club. She throws a characteristic stone fastball to the club’s intervention in the game, and she is criticized for the sharp line. At the end of the 2022-2023 season, Kim Yeon-kyung, who becomes a free agent (FA), is unlikely to remain at Heungkuk Life Insurance. Fans also criticized the club and the group’s incomprehensible decision through her truck protest.
The reason why Kim Yeon-kyung, who made her two domestic returns to Heungkuk Life Insurance, changed her mind was that the club suddenly dismissed former manager Kwon Soon-chan and former general manager Kim Yeo-il on the 2nd. The leadership of the team that ranked first in crowd mobilization and second in the middle of the regular league has all changed.
The club’s explanation explained that former coach Kwon and former general manager Kim had both dismissed as they had different views on the management of the team. Ahead of the Incheon GS Caltex game on the 5th, the first game after former head coach Kwon’s dismissal, Shin Yong-joon, the new head of Heungkuk Life Insurance, said, “I know that the former head coach and manager did not feel conflict over ‘appointment of players’, but there was a problem with ‘team management’. He said, “Former coach Kwon and former general manager Kim Yeo-il had a conflict over the rotation (front and back placement) of Kim Yeon-kyung and Yelena Mrazenovich (registered name Yelena), and the owner hardened.” He explained, “It is not a matter of player appointment,” but rather admitted that the former general manager or senior manager was involved in the operation of the game. Head coach Lee Young-soo, whom the club appointed as acting manager, also resigned as soon as the game with GS Caltex ended.
Kim Yeon-kyung also seems to be unable to understand the club’s explanation. Kim Yeon-kyung said, “It is true that there was talk about the appointment of players. (The club side) did as it wanted and there were cases where it lost a few times,” he said. “It is embarrassing that these things happen. “I don’t understand it any more if I dismissed former manager Kwon Soon-chan for the reason of Shin’s disclosure,” he said. I don’t know how the company (club) talks about it, but personally I don’t understand it. If that’s the case, all coaches can be sacked.” 스포츠토토
It is very unusual for a player to actively comment on what happened between the club and the manager. To that extent, it is a story that Heungkuk Life Insurance players such as Kim Yeon-kyung are very dissatisfied with the team’s decision. Kim Yeon-kyung said, “Isn’t it different from saying that the company prefers a director who listens well? Even if the next coach comes, there is a part that can be trusted (I don’t know if there is),” he said. As a person in the volleyball world, it is regrettable.”
Heungkuk Life Insurance made an offer to head coach Kim Ki-joong of Sunseon Girls’ High School, who served as the team’s head coach until last season. However, in this situation, it is difficult for the players to trust the manager appointed by the club.
Kim Yeon-kyung even said, “It’s so amazing that I wonder if there is a team like this.” This is read as meaning that he may no longer go with Heungkuk Life Insurance. In 2012 and 2013, Kim Yeon-kyung had a conflict with Heungkuk Life Insurance, the “V-League Elementary Club,” over remaining in foreign leagues. Even after returning to Heungkuk Life in the 2020-2021 season and digesting one season, the 2021-2022 season was played in the Chinese league because of the situation within the team. He returned to Heungkuk Life Insurance and played the role of the team’s leader, but this time he criticized the club’s incomprehensible decision head-on.
If Kim Yeon-kyung plays in Korea instead of going abroad next season, Heungkuk Life Insurance will lose both its justification and practicality.