Heungkuk drafted her in 2005. Korean League rules are that she must play for 6 years in Korea before becoming a free agent.
Korea's volleyball league has a player allocation draft, different than the rest of the world except US and Japan for baseball (US for all sports).
This enables weak teams to pick good young players (hopefully) to improve these teams.
Often Asian country's sports federations do not realize that players have rights after their contracts expire. Japanese baseball did not allow free agency until 1994, and that was after playing 10 years. It is now shorter.
Also, these leagues had ridiculous rules saying that if you retired, you could not play with another team. Japanese pitcher Hideo Nomo, took this exception to play in the USA. He retired from baseball in Japan. Became a free agent and signed with the LA Dodgers.
Heungkuk is trying to say that "Well she did not play 6 seasons in South Korea, so she is still our property."
She played as a rental player for 2 years in Japan, under your control, while being paid by someone else. Plus she played from 2005-2009 (4 seasons) for Heungkuk. Even after playing for Fenerbache the last 2 years, that would make it 8 seasons.
When is enough, enough? Kim needs to stay strong, threaten retirement, even retire to force Huengkuk's hand.
I hope that she says this.
"I have chosen to retire because KOVO have let its players down. The club that I first played for as a professional is prohibiting me from playing in the most competitive leagues in the world. The experience that I gained in Turkey has greatly helped my play and the play of the national team. Because of their cowardice in forcing me to play under a contract that I feel that I have completely fulfilled. I will not return to play for this team ever again. If they will not release me or allow a team to purchase my contract, I will retire pending appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport to be let go from this contract."