I'm going to release you as the winning leader...Everyone acknowledged and expected, luxury giant's new start

Nov 26, 2025

Kangwon Woori Card coach. Photo courtesy = Woori Card Woori WON

"I didn't think it was special...."

Coach Lee Kang-won (35, Woori Card) announced a new start ahead of this season. He ended his career as an active player and became a leader.

He showed outstanding offense during his active career. He joined LIG Insurance (currently KB Insurance) in the first round of the 2012-2013 season (the first overall pick), played for Woori Card through Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, and played in 266 regular season games with a success rate of 1,284 points.

He played in 29 games in the 2024-2025 season and showed compliance with a 104-point attack success rate of 43.46%. If the team moved, there was a possibility that he would also play as an active player. However, Woori Card highly appreciated the leadership of coach Lee, who led the team well as a captain, and offered him a coaching job. A Woori Card official said, `I thought I would do really well if I were a leader", he explained.

a sudden offer of retirement. Coach Lee was also deeply concerned. He was actually greedy as an active player. Now that I've done this much this year, I thought there would be more opportunities next year. I thought I could do more, but I got a leader suggestion. I think I thought about it for two to three weeks. I had injuries such as shoulder, elbow, knee, ankle, etc., but now I am all better. However, it was a little hard for me because I could suffer (injury) if I played as an active player. Above all, there is a foreign director now, and I wondered when I could learn so closely. I thought it was a good opportunity to come at any time."

coach Kangwon (left) and coach Park Chul-woo. Photo courtesy =KOVO

Coach Lee continued, "(Park) Cheol-woo also called and asked me to do it together. I chose it because people around me said a lot that they wanted me to do it. The environment where I could start with people I know was also good. The perception of the team called Woori Card is really good. It is a team that many players want to come. The secretariat has also made a lot of such efforts, and I hope it will continue to be like that in the future. I think the biggest advantage is that the players feel like they belong to the team"I would have adapted to the unfamiliar environment, but I thought I should make a decision quickly because I can learn in such a good situation." he said.

As for the active days that I looked back on myself, "I think I was very sick. As I did it without sacrificing myself, there were also injuries. I regret it, but I also think I did well. I think I did it as far as I could."

The most memorable game was the match between KB Insurance and Woori Card on December 30, 2017. Coincidentally, coach Lee was a member of KB Insurance, and at the time, coach Lee scored 13 points and recorded a 50% attack success rate, leading his team to a 3-1 victory. "It's a game that's been praised a lot, and I usually remember it a lot when I play a few games."

As for how he felt about starting anew as a coach "At first, I was half worried and half excited. I think worry is because it's my first time as a leader and I suddenly do it. But I was excited about what I felt during my active career and how I could deliver my research to my juniors" he said.

Lee Kang-won, coach of Woori Card, who plays in the 2024-2025 season. Photo courtesy =KOVO

The rich experience accumulated during his active career will be generously passed on to juniors in the future. In particular, since most of the Apogit Spiker positions are occupied by foreign players, it is not easy for domestic players to catch their minds. "It is important for the domestic apogee spiker to survive in the V-League, but it is also important mentally," Lee said"I think we have to hang in there for now. It's often physically inferior, so you have to always take care of it. I wasn't very mental when I was active. I feel like I'm not good enough, so I think I decided on a role model and decided to chase a lot. I didn't have a special role model, but I set it up in each situation. That helped me a lot."

In addition, coach Lee has his own know-how because he has injuries. I want to tell you this part well. In addition, I hope there is a part where players think creatively and creatively in each situation. I hope we can connect well with the coaches and talk a lot about winning" he said.

The coach hasn't tasted the championship yet. The goal is to feel the feeling of winning, which I did not know as a player, as a leader now. The coach said "Every player aims and dreams to win. It's a shame that I couldn't do it when I was a player. I really want to do it as a leader"If it doesn't work for 24 hours, I'll try with the mindset that I have to do 25 hours. I will help the players have a good access to volleyball"He expressed his determination.