Ram Hong shed tears at the dedication video with Yoon Do-hyun’s blue whale as the background music.
Asan Woori Bank held a retirement ceremony for Hong Kong Ram in a match between Woori Bank and Yongin Samsung Life Insurance held at Asan Yi Sun-shin Gymnasium on the 16th. Standing on the court for his retirement ceremony during halftime, Ram Hong watched the dedication video and wiped away tears.
The Woori Bank team also stood on the court together and looked back on the days of senior and manager Hong Hong-ram. Afterwards, his retirement was celebrated by receiving gifts prepared by the Woori Bank team and Samsung Life Insurance Bae Hye-yoon and Kim Dan-bi. Hong Ram started his professional career at Samsung Life Insurance and ended it at Woori Bank. The congratulations of both teams left a big resonance in Hong Kong Ram.
Hong Hong-ram joined Samsung Life Insurance in the 5th place in the 1st round at the 2007 WKBL New Player Selection. After that, he went through KEB Hana Bank 안전놀이터 (now Hana 1Q) and ended his professional life at Woori Bank. He was not a flashy player, but he was active in defense and hustle play, and he was a player who helped the team by supporting outside shots. In 398 career games played, Hong Bo-ram averaged 3.6 points and 1.7 rebounds per game. He announced his retirement at the end of the 2021-2022 season and is working as the manager of the Woori Bank team.
Hong Hong-ram said, “Even though I knew it was a retirement ceremony, I cried when I stood on the court. As the moments of exercising while watching the video passed by, it seems that tears came out without my knowledge. A song called Blue Whale by Yoon Do-hyun came out. If it wasn’t for that song, I thought I could have held back my tears, but the song was so sad that I cried. He seems to have paid a lot of attention to the team. I didn’t expect the retirement ceremony, but the director tipped me off. Originally, it was meant to be a surprise, but it was a consideration that it would be better to wear clothes,” he said at the retirement ceremony.
Halftime was too short for the public relations person to express his gratitude. Hong Hong-ram said, “If I hadn’t met a team called Woori Bank, I might have become a forgotten player without a championship ring. When the team moved to Woori Bank, it was the coaches and coaches who made me like this. That moment was a turning point for me, and I really want to thank you.”
After his retirement, Hong Hong-ram joins Woori Bank in the second act of his life. He works as a manager for our bank. Regarding this, Hong Bo-ram said, “Everyone really helps. There are a lot of things I don’t know and a lot of things I’m not good at, but he helps me and tells me everything. Hearing compliments word for word when preparing clothes or meals for the players makes this work worthwhile.”
Coach Seong-Woo Seong-Woo said after the game, “Athletes who work hard do well even when they are asked to work. So he grabbed someone who was about to retire and offered him a manager. It’s important for the players to be good at basketball, but I want them to do well in life like Hong Kong Ram,” he praised Hong Kong Ram.
Park Hye-jin also sent a message of support to Hong Bo-ram. Park Hye-jin said, “(Hong) Bo-ram saw the video of her sister exercising, and she was moved. Her older sister was a salt player who threw herself for her team. I hope she only walks on the flower path in the future,” she cheered on.
When Ho-ram Hong left the court after the retirement ceremony, the cheering song “Woori Bank Ho-ram!” filled the stadium. It was a perfect retirement ceremony until the end for Hong, who continues to be with Woori Bank.