Kang So-hwi Korea Expressway Corporation broke the record for women's professional volleyball.
The club that caught Kang, who was considered the biggest free agent, was not his former team. The Korea Expressway Corporation announced on Wednesday that it has recruited Kang, who became the second free agent.
It is known that a number of clubs have jumped into recruitment of Kang So-hwi, Korea's top outside heater. However, Kang's choice was Korea Expressway Corporation.
On the reason why she decided to move, Kang explained, "I left the team that I had grown attached to since my debut, but I wanted to expand my volleyball experience through new challenges." "I will work with my team members to achieve V3 this upcoming season. Please support my new volleyball career at the Korea Expressway Corporation."
The total contract amount is 2.4 billion won, 800 million won per year...More than Kim Yeon-koung
This is the highest figure in women's history. The total amount amounts to 2.4 billion won 2.36 million U.S. dollars for three years from 2024 to 2027. As a result, Kang will receive 800 million won 464,950 dollars in annual pay 500 million won 464,970 dollars and 300 million won 365,950 dollars in annual pay.
It is the highest ever. The total compensation for the women's team for next season was 2.9 billion won 2,2 billion won for salary cap + 600 million won for option cap + 300 million won for victory allowance, up 100 million won from the 2022-2023 season.
The maximum annual salary that a player can receive has also increased from 775 million won 659,000 U.S. dollars to 800 million won 89,000 dollars. Kang successfully transferred to the team by filling all of them.
Previously, the women's top payers were Kim Yeon-koung Volleyball Empress, Clutch Park, and Park Jeong-ah Pepper Savings Bank. When she renewed her contract with Heungkuk Life Insurance last season, she signed a one-year contract worth 775 million won approx. In the same year, Park also signed Pepper for a three-year contract worth 2.35 billion won approx.
A different choice than the first FA that was 'residued'...Why did you decide to transfer?
It was truly a mega hit. Kang became the second free agent after the end of this season. He became the first free agent after the 2020-2021 season, and joined hands with his former team GS Caltex ahead of the 2021-2022 season.
In fact, Kang had already hinted at a move during the season. After the match against IBK Industrial Bank of Korea in the second round held at Jangchung Gymnasium in Seoul on November 30, last year, Kang said, "I chose GS without hesitation for the first time. Now it's my second FA. I think I have to think about many things. I feel like I'm complacent when I'm staying at one place. I think I have to think about many things."
Later, when controversy arose that "the season is in full swing, did you decide to move?" Kang So-hwi explained through SNS, saying, "I'm sorry for making a misunderstanding by making a wrong choice of words." "I said this with the thought of not being satisfied with my skills and wanting to develop it, so I also want to experience overseas leagues if I have a chance," he explained.
It was a disappointing performance at the end of the season…What does he look like on the new team?
How did Kang perform? In 35 games during the 2023-2024 season, Kang ranked 12th in scoring 444, 10th in attack success rate 39.30 percent, seventh in defense 5.703 per set, eighth in receiving 37.02 and ninth in Diggs 3.297 per set, showing good performance in offense and defense.
Kang has been serving as the main scorer of her team, scoring 95 points in the first round, 86 points in the second round, 83 points in the third round, and 93 points in the fourth round. Notably, when she finished the second round, she was the only Korean player to rank in the top 10 in scoring along with Kim Yeon-koung. During this period, her attack success rate was 42 percent and her receiving efficiency was 39 percent.
However, his momentum drastically declined after the fifth round. He only had 56 points in the fifth round and 31 points in the sixth round. The success rate of attacks also declined. The success rate of attacks in the fifth round stood at 30.69 percent, while that rate stood at 29.64 percent in the sixth round.
Another reason was poor physical stamina. Even before the opening of this season, he participated in many international competitions as a member of the national team, including the Hangzhou Asian Games, and most of them played as a starting member.
Kang has expressed his ambition to become a better player during the season. "I feel confident. I want to become a player who scores no matter what when the ball comes up."
Kang So-hwi, who chose a new challenge rather than being complacent with her former team, is drawing keen attention from fans to see if she will develop into a player worthy of the highest amount in women's volleyball history.
