New Faces and Newfound Popularity

Shin Young-soo (23, Hanyang University), a “big cannon” on the right side of the Korean national volleyball team, has settled on to the Korean Airlines Volleyball Team.

On February 18, Cha Joo-hyun, the coach of the Korean Airlines team, a professional team, chose his players at the draft for 2005 university graduates held at the Chosun Westin Hotel located in Sogong-dong, Seoul. In the first round, the pick of choice was Shin Young-soo, and the second pick was Kim Hyeong-woo (Sungkyunkwan University), a center. The Korean Airlines team could pick both the first and the second players in the first round because in the 2003 draft, it sent Lee Kyeong-soo (LG Insurance) to his current team in exchange for the right of nomination.

Shin Young-soo, who stands 200 centimeters tall, led the Korean team to victory at the 2003 Daegu Universiade as well as at the Asian Championship. The “big cannon” is considered an “instant plus” to his team even in the professional league. Shin Young-soo will receive a five-year contract and 60 to 90 million won a year. In addition to this, Korean Airlines will give 60 to 90million won to his school as financial assistance.

Hyundai Capital Services coach Kim Ho-cheol had the right to select the third person in the first round and chose Joo Sang-yong (a junior at Hanyang University), an undergraduate left player, who has the university president’s permission to continue playing. Samsung Fire and Marine Insurance took Kim Jeong-hun (Kyonggi University), a left player. In the second round, the Samsung Insurance team chose Jeon Soo-min (Kyunghee University), also a left player, Hyundai Capital chose Ha Kyeong-min (Myongji University), a center, and Korean Airlines selected Koo Sang-yun (Inha University), a left player. LG Insurance first exercised its right of nomination for the fourth draftee in the second round by choosing Kwak Dong-Hyeok (a junior at Hanyang University), a libero player.

Four professional men’s teams have accepted 13 players as their new members, which is slightly less than the total of 28 graduates, all of who belong to eight universities (in the first league). In the past, the draft has fallen apart three times. Now that the draft for new professional players is over, the new recruits can play in the KT&G 2005 V-League that will kick off its season on February 20.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com