“There is nothing that will change significantly” Kim Yeon-kyung,’talking’ to the first FA in her life… V-League explodes with interest
The first free agency in my life is approaching, but Kim Yeon-kyung (34, Heungkuk Life Insurance) herself is calm.
On the 10th, right after the 3rd round game in which Heungkuk Life Insurance won a set score of 3-1 against Pepper Savings Bank, Kim Yeon-kyung said, “Many people are interested in and looking forward to my FA, but in fact, nothing much will change. There is a fixed amount of money available, and there is nothing to change except for moving teams, so there are no big expectations. I just want to do well this season,” he said calmly.
It is the first FA in 18 years at the end of the 2022-2023 season. Kim Yeon-kyung, who debuted through Heungkuk Life Insurance in the 2005-2006 season, challenged overseas leagues such as Japan, Turkey, and China as a rental from the 2009-2010 season. In the 2020-2021 season, it returned to the V-League 11 years after the 2010 KOVO Cup. After the 2020 Tokyo Olympics last year, he played in Shanghai, China, and wore the Heungkuk Life Insurance uniform again ahead of this season.
The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) considers playing 1 season if they play more than 40% of all regular league games, and high school graduates are given free agency qualifications if they complete 6 seasons. This is the 6th season of the V-League, and if Kim Yeon-kyung plays only two more games, he will become a free agent after the season ends.
It is also understandable that he did not put much meaning in saying, “I have no great expectations other than being free and being able to choose my team” because it is impossible to achieve the salary jackpot that a normal free agent can dream of. This year, Kim Yeon-kyung’s annual salary is a total of 700 million won (450 million won in annual 스포츠토토 salary + 250 million won in options), which is already the maximum that can be received. This season’s V-League women’s salary cap is 2.3 billion won (annual salary 1.8 billion won + option 500 million won), and the maximum amount a player can receive is 450 million won, equivalent to 25% of the salary cap and 50% of the option cap. Together with 250 million won, it is up to 700 million won.
Unlike the calm players, the V-League women’s teams are expected to show explosive interest. Kim Yeon-kyung has the skills to raise the level to the next level no matter which team she goes to. She is still performing like a foreign player this season, including 7th in scoring (228), 2nd in attack success rate (44.81%), 3rd in open attack success rate (43.88%), and 3rd in timed attack success rate (53.42%). Not only that, but she also has her dignity as a leader who boosts the morale of her teammates with her unique fighting spirit and responsibility, and her ticket power as a living legend of Korean women’s volleyball. She is the player to bring if you can bring her no matter what the maximum amount is set.
However, Kim Yeon-kyung spares her words and tries to focus on her present. He expressed his determination, saying, “We are in a position to chase after the leader, but the difference in points with Hyundai E&C, which is number 1, is not that great. We are concentrating on our game by bringing as many games as possible to win 3 points and trying to win 1 point even if we lose.” seemed