Although the national representative Kim Yeon-kyung (33, Shanghai) has a period, it still does not feel real.
Kim Yeon-kyung first joined the women’s volleyball team in 2005 and wore the Taegeuk mark. Since then, for 17 years, he has represented Korea in various competitions, including 3 Olympic Games, 4 Asian Games, and 3 World Championships. Thanks to Kim Yeon-kyung, who was evaluated as the best female volleyball player in the world, Korean women’s volleyball reached the finals three times in a row, and even wrote a legend in the semifinals in London and Tokyo. It was a happy time of Korean women’s volleyball with Kim Yeon-kyung.
However, Kim Yeon-kyung announced her retirement from the national team after the Tokyo Olympics. On the afternoon of the 6th, Kim Yeon-kyung revealed her national team retirement and future plans through a non-face-to-face video interview with reporters on the afternoon of the 6th.
Kim Yeon-kyung said, “I always thought about when to retire from the national team. I was not young enough, so I thought about retiring after finishing the big Olympics called the Olympics. Recently, there have been a lot of injuries. In fact, I still can’t believe it.”
Kim Yeon-kyung was more desperate for the Tokyo Olympics, the last stage of her national team. Kim Yeon-kyung said, “Each game I thought, ‘This Olympics is the last. Because I thought it was the last game, it really felt like the last game.”
“This Olympics was even more important because it was the first time in five years. When it was over, I wanted to think ‘I did it without regret’. In fact, I still can’t believe it. It feels strange to say that I can’t participate in next year’s Asian Games,” he added.
After the Tokyo Olympics, a large number of veteran players who played a pivotal role in Korea’s women’s volleyball team, such as Kim Yeon-kyung, center Kim Su-ji (IBK Industrial Bank) and Yang Hyo-jin (Hyundai E&C), announced their retirement from the national team. For this reason, a new face is needed right away.
When asked to choose her successor, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “It is difficult to choose one player,” and “In the end, the leading players of each V-League team must lead. All players need to take responsibility and think bigger and prepare.”
In particular, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “A more systematic system is important.” “Now it is important to foster youth and youth. There should be a system in which national team leaders can coach young players more. It is important to constantly challenge and prepare,” he said.
Although retiring from the national team, Kim Yeon-kyung, who will still be on the court as a volleyball player, will return to the Chinese league with a short league schedule. Since then, he has opened up the possibility of playing in various stages such as the United States and Europe.
However, for Kim Yeon-kyung, the moment of retirement from active duty will inevitably come. Kim Yeon-kyung said, “In the past, I wanted to bring in a system I got from overseas and nurture players, and recently I am thinking of an administrator. It could also be Kim Yeon-kyung, a broadcaster. I want to try new things in various directions. I hope you will show a lot of interest in women’s volleyball.”
Reporter Oh Hae-won
