(By Suyeon Kwon, MHN) In 2005, a fresh-faced teenager debuted in Korea’s V-League and immediately seized the MVP title, as if it had been waiting for her. Two decades later, Kim Yeon-koung walked away from her professional volleyball career the same way she began it—holding the MVP trophy high.

At the 2024–25 V-League Awards held on April 14, Kim was honored with three accolades: inclusion in the V-League’s 20th Anniversary Best 7, the Best Outside Hitter, and the Regular Season MVP. It was a fitting final chapter for the woman who redefined Korean volleyball. Notably, the MVP honor was a unanimous vote—31 out of 31—making her the first athlete in league history to achieve unanimous MVP recognition twice.

This MVP title marked Kim’s seventh overall (2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08, 2020–21, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2024–25), an unmatched feat in Korean women’s volleyball.

Humble Beginnings, Towering Legacy
Despite her dominance today, Kim’s early years offered no promise of greatness. Until middle school, she stood just 170 cm tall and often served as a benchwarmer or setter. At times, she contemplated quitting volleyball altogether. But after much soul-searching and encouragement, she persevered—and a growth spurt in high school shot her up to 192 cm.

Graduating from Hanbom High School (formerly Hanil Computer High), Kim was selected as the No.1 overall pick by Heungkuk Life in 2005. Her iconic No.10 jersey would go on to symbolize two decades of volleyball excellence. In her debut season, she racked up 756 points across 28 regular-season matches with a 39.65% attack success rate, leading the once-bottom-ranked team to a miraculous championship sweep. She claimed every major accolade that season: Rookie of the Year, Regular Season MVP, Championship MVP, Top Scorer, Best Server, and Best Attacker.

Kim remains the only player in Korean professional sports history to win Rookie of the Year, Regular Season MVP, and Championship MVP in the same season.

A Global Trailblazer
Kim followed up with MVP wins in 2006–07 and 2007–08, further cementing her superstar status. After lifting Heungkuk Life to glory again in 2008–09, she ventured overseas—first to Japan’s JT Marvelous, where she led the once-struggling team on a historic 25-game winning streak.

Her overseas success only grew. In Turkey’s premier league, she joined powerhouse Fenerbahçe and led the team to a CEV Cup title (2013–14), Turkish League championships (2014–15, 2016–17), and a third-place finish in the Champions League (2015–16). Her salary, which started at 24 million KRW as a rookie, eventually soared to nearly 1.5 billion KRW (~$1.1 million) per season.

She continued to dominate, winning MVP honors in Turkey and later in China with Shanghai Bright Ubest. Upon returning to Turkey, Kim became the first Asian player to serve as captain in the European league, leading Eczacıbaşı VitrA with distinction.

A Hero for the Nation
Kim’s legacy isn’t limited to club success. She began her national team career in 2004 as a U-19 player and soon became the face of Korean women’s volleyball. At the 2012 London Olympics, she carried the team to the semifinals—their best finish since 1976—and was named Olympic MVP, despite Korea finishing without a medal. Over the course of three Olympic Games (London, Rio, Tokyo), Kim scored a staggering 455 points.

Her final Olympic appearance at Tokyo 2020 saw Korea pull off thrilling wins over Japan and Turkey to reach the semifinals once more. Following the tournament, Kim emotionally announced her retirement from international play, calling it “the hardest decision of my life.”

Returning Home, Ending Strong
In 2020, Kim made a surprise return to Korea after over a decade abroad. Although Heungkuk Life fell short in the 2020–21 Championship, her presence revitalized the team. After another year in China, she returned again in 2022—determined to retire on home soil.

Though her salary of 700 million KRW (including bonuses) was modest compared to her overseas earnings, Kim was driven by pride, not profit. Her return helped Heungkuk Life climb from the lower ranks back to title contention. They finished runner-up in both the 2022–23 and 2023–24 seasons, falling just short of her dream to retire as a champion.

But in the 2024–25 season, she got her fairytale ending.

Kim led her team to first place in the regular season, then endured a grueling championship series against Jeonggwanjang. After trading wins, the teams entered a decisive Game 5, where Kim’s heroic late-game defense sealed the title. She was named Championship MVP, mirroring her debut season.

She also took home the Regular Season MVP, becoming the only player to bookend her career with MVP titles at both her first and final awards ceremonies. She posted 585 points (7th overall, 1st among Korean players), with a 46.03% attack success rate and top-three rankings in multiple categories.

The Next Chapter
As she steps away from the court, Kim Yeon-koung’s legendary No.10 jersey will be retired permanently by Heungkuk Life. But while she leaves behind the uniform, she’s not leaving volleyball.

Kim will remain with Heungkuk Life in an advisory role, while also managing her foundation and pursuing further education. Her journey continues this May as she travels to Istanbul for the men’s and women’s international player tryouts.

The court may no longer echo with her spikes and serves, but her legacy is one that will reverberate across generations of Korean volleyball.