Kim Yeon-kyung retired Heungkuk Life's pride is hurt, and the IBK and Korea Expressway Corporation are expected to have a second-tier system...Yeonkyung is missing a lot

Oct 16, 2025

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. Lee Da-hyun of Heungkuk Life is saying hello. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. The coaches of the seven teams attending the Media Day are posing with the championship trophy. From left, Chung Kwan-jang Ko Hee-jin, Hyundai Engineering & Construction Kang Sung-hyung, IBK Industrial Bank Kim Ho-cheol, Heungkuk Life Insurance Tomoko Yoshihara, Pepper Savings Bank Chang Ji-yeon, Korea Expressway Corporation Kim Jong-min, GS Caltex Director Lee Young-taek. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

"The Korea Expressway Corporation and the Industrial Bank of Korea seem to be the strongest."

KOVO hosted the 「Jin Air 2025-2026 V League Women's Media Day" at the Rivera Hotel in Cheongdam-dong, Seoul on the 16th. Head coaches and representative players from seven clubs, foreign players or Asian quarter players attended and expressed their determination to welcome the new season.

IBK Industrial Bank of Korea and Korea Expressway Corporation are considered the strongest two teams this season.

Industrial Bank of Korea won the Cup last month and gained momentum. With the recruitment of Libero Lim Myung-ok, receiving and defense are said to be close to perfection. Kim Ho-chul, director of the Industrial Bank of Korea, even said, "(Im) Myung-ok did everything, so I have nothing to do." Cup MVP Yuk Seo-young, Lee So-young, Victoria Danchak, and Hwang Min-kyung are also among the top strikers.

Although the Korea Expressway Corporation finished second in the cup competition, foreign giant Retizia Moma, who is in his fifth year in the V League, has strong attack power. Domestic players such as Kang So-hwi, Bae Yu-na, and Hwang Yeon-ju are also splendid. This is the background that is evaluated as solid in power.

As a result of seven team coaches voting for the first-place team expected in the regular league, five votes from the Industrial Bank of Korea and two votes from the Korea Expressway Corporation came out. Coach Yoshihara Tomoko of Heungkuk Life said "It was difficult to choose because I thought every team had a chance to win the championship", and voted for the roadworks.

Coach Kim Ho-chul said, `On the one hand, I feel good, but on the other hand, it's a very burdensome result. I'm grateful for taking pictures of our team, but all seven teams are favourites. If I want to take it, I will choose the road construction. I think the team has good players and is in good harmony.

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. Kim Ho-chul, director of IBK Industrial Bank, is giving a greeting. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. Director Kim Jong-min of the Korea Expressway Corporation is giving a greeting. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

Kim Jong-min, director of the Korea Expressway Corporation, said "Thank you. In my view, Industrial Bank of Korea is still the most stable and aggressive. In a way, I think everything is a team that is close to perfect. I think this season will be quite a difficult season because the rest of the teams have also improved their offense a lot."

Heungkuk Life Insurance is the unified championship team last season, but there are many question marks over how Kim Yeon-kyung, who was at the core of the team's power, will fill the gap as she retires. Even though he recruited middle blocker Lee Da-hyun, who was evaluated as the FA's biggest fish, he was far from the favorite to win.

Lee Da-hyun said, "(Kim) Yeon-kyung is missing a lot, and everyone knows it even if I don't say it. When asked if he thought he could fill the vacancy, he would say no if he asked him to answer 'Yes', 'No'. Because your seat is so big and I'm different from your skills. To go in another direction, we now want to unite as a team and play volleyball. I think I have a great desire to show my organizational skills. `.

Heungkuk Life Insurance Co., Ltd.'s new foreign main gun, Rebecca Lashem, said, `The players are really trying to fill Kim Yeon-kyung's vacancy by training hard every day. They support each other a lot, talk a lot, and help each other a lot. We are trying to put positive energy on the court together, and at the same time, we are trying to fill the vacancy. "

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. Director Yoshihara Tomoko of Heungkuk Life is giving a greeting. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. Lee Da-hyun and Rebecca of Heungkuk Life are shouting slogans. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

Coach Chung Kwan-jang and Ko Hee-jin, the runner-up team of last season, said, `How good would it be if it went as planned. I think overcoming various variables is the beauty of long-term races. This season, the middle blocker prepared a lot for a little more points, and Lee Sun-woo (outside heater) is a good offensive player. I expect Lee Sun-woo to score a lot from the left, and if foreign player Elisa Zanete plays a role, I will be able to do well."

Hyundai E&C, GS Caltex, and Pepper Savings Bank are also looking for a rebound. Although the Industrial Bank of Korea and the Korea Expressway Corporation are considered the favorites, all the coaches and players of the seven clubs are saying that it is a season where power has been leveled more than ever.

Hyundai E&C hopes to fill the vacancy of Moma, who moved to the Korea Expressway Corporation in the regular league, although foreign main gun Kari Geisberger did not have much time to work together due to his injury.

Pepper Savings Bank expects middle blocker Haruyo Shimamura, a former member of the Japanese national team. Perce Savings Bank manager Chang Ji-yeon said, `We were disappointed in the market share in the middle of last season. I have faith that Shimura will solve it well.'

GS Caltex hoped middle blocker Choi Yoo-rim would reinforce his height, which is considered the team's weakness. GS Caltex coach Lee Young-taek said, `Choi Yu-rim trained hard during the offseason and has grown a lot.'

V League Women's Media Day held at the Rivera Hotel on the 16th. The coaches, representative players, and foreign players of seven teams who attended the Media Day are posing with the championship trophy. Reporter Huh Sang-wook's wook@sportschosun.com/2025.10.16/

This article was translated by Naver AI translator.