S. Korea 2025-2026 V. League (Women)

    Here are the Asian Quarter players chosen for season 2025-2026:


    PicturePlayerCountryPositionAgeClub



    		Stefanie WeilerAustraliaOH29AI Peppers
    Thanacha SooksodThailandOH/OPP25Hi-Pass
    Alissa KinkelaAustraliaOPP23IBK
    Reina TokokuJapanOH26GS Caltex
    Anilise FitziNew ZealandMB28Pink Spiders
    Wipawee SrithongThailandOH26Red Sparks
    Jahstice YauchiJapanOH26Hyundai Hillstate

    Here's the list of players now under Free Agent for 2025:


    Pink Spiders:

    • Lee Go Eun (S)
    • Kim Da Sol (S)
    • Moon Jiyun (OPP)

    Red Sparks:

    • Pyo Seungju

    Hyundai Construction:

    • Yang Hyojin (MB)
    • Go Yerim (OH)
    • Lee Dahyun (MB)

    IBK:

    • Kim Chaeyeon (MB)
    • Yuk Seoyoung (OH)

    HI-Pass:

    • Yim Myung Wook (L)

    GS Caltex:

    • Yoo Seo Yeon (OH)
    • Kwon Minji (OH)

    AI Peppers:

    • Ha Hyejin (MB)

    FA Non-contractor

    • Han Suji
    • Kim Haebin


    Deadline of announcement of FA is until April 24, 2025. So far, Hyundai seems to have the most to lose if one of their players do not renew. Yang Hyojin is definitely not leaving, but Lee Dahyun has expressed her wish to play overseas. They also need Go Yeriim since Jeong Jiyun's receive continue to be her Achilles heel. IBK, Hi-Pass and AI Peppers may renew their players. Not sure yet with GS Caltex since both players were very lack luster past season.


    Also, I've heard that Lee Yunjung might be traded for IBK since they need a stable setter (and Kim Daeun is being molded to become a next generation setter for Hi-Pass).

    Quote from suminj

    I'll be realistic... I like her as a player but she doesn't stand a chance overseas 😭

    Height and limited foreigner slot, chances aren't high


    Even the Red Sparks middle blockers are similar/better than her now

    I think stats-wise, she's still the best blocker in the league, followed by Fitzi and Oh Seyeon. She also tops in quick attacks, with Thuy being the best slider.


    Definitely not in Europe or America, but maybe in Japan? I think she's got the enthusiasm and mindset for it.


    Honestly I just want some Korean players playing outside lol. Only Lee Dayeong does it and she does good.

    Quote from suminj

    Ah maybe since they have Asia quota, if that includes Korea!

    But she'll return soon after because Korea's domestic pay is so much higher😅

    Well maybe :). It's still a bit difficult to gauge what she wants. I also recall her pay grade is Level C (unlike other FA players that are Level A) so if Hyundai offers her a higher salary, then she may stay. Hope she tries at least for a year, coz Thai middles are doing well in Japan.

    Lee Dahyun moves to Pink Spiders:



    I wanna be happy for her that she's now moving teams, but I really wanted her to try out playing outside the country. I did hear that she's trying to include in her contract a provision that allows her to play outside the country so I hope she can do it still. So far, she's the biggest catch this FA season.


    I'm also just waiting to hear about the possible trade between Lee Yun Jung (S, Hi-Pass) and Hwang Min Kyung (OH, IBK). Afterwards, its pretty much boring FA season.



    Go Yerim moves to AI Peppers and renews Ha Hyejin (MB)!


    Hmm... Go Yerim is a welcome addition for her excellent receiving, though I am not sure about this since AI Peppers now have 5 experienced OHs (Park Jeong Ah, Lee Hanbi, Stefanie Weiler, Lee Yerim, and now Go Yerim). Since Go Yerim is a Class A FA pick, AI Peppers must let go of another player (probably Lee Yerim or, if I were them, Park Jeong Ah XD). There are also talks that they might change Stefanie Weiler to MB but that's honestly such a waste.


    I think Korean coaches don't know how to utilize the Asian quarter players. Based on their previous performance, AI Peppers needs an MB since their previous draft isn't renewing.

    Pink Spiders retain Shin Yeon Gyeong (L), Kim Dasol (S), and Moon Jiyun (OPP)!





    So far, Shin Yeon Gyeong has transitioned well as a Libero and is doing wonders for Pink Spiders. Kim Dasol will definitely be the 3rd choice setter for the team, while Moon Jiyun can be a solid player with enough motivation and training.


    Pyo Seungju retires ahead of the 2025-2026 season. :what:


    I am truly shocked. There are older players than her in the league still so I didn't expect she'll retire at 32. She's been a core player in both club and NT that I am caught off guard. She may not be the flashiest player out there but she's probably the most stable in terms of attack and defense. A jack-of-all-trades.


    I guess its easier for her to retire now given that she's married. All the best to her and her family!


    Edit: It seems Red Sparks and her didn't match during negotiation - and also no club has signed her. GS Caltex could have given her a chance given their lack of stable players as OH, or even IBK given Lee Soyoung isn't performing as well as she used to.

    It seems the Korean volleyball scene was shook because of this FA season.


    Fans are surprised that a solid OH like Pyo Seungju wasn't signed, and even more appalling is the fact that veteran players with a huge impact in their clubs like Im Myeong Ok (Best of 7 Libero in the 20 years of Korean Volleyball) was underpaid this FA season (from 350 million won to 100 million won). Meanwhile, players like Heejin and Soyoung are paid an exorbitant amount of money and do not even play that much.


    There are now talks to change up the whole FA scheme as it has many limitations and is oftentimes pro-club than pro-player.

    :(

    I will miss her. Kim Suji and Yang HyoJin are a few years older but they are fit and still playing. Don't know about Suji, but Hyojin is married and it's not an issue for her. Still I believe players know best what they want. Who knows, she might return to the game later, anything as long as she's happy :heart:

    Quote from Julian Chow

    :(

    I will miss her. Kim Suji and Yang HyoJin are a few years older but they are fit and still playing. Don't know about Suji, but Hyojin is married and it's not an issue for her. Still I believe players know best what they want. Who knows, she might return to the game later, anything as long as she's happy :heart:

    Unfortunately, I don't think it was her choice. She didn't renew with Red Sparks because, from what I read, she wanted to go to a club that is near Seoul (at least 4 clubs in Korea are in Seoul-area). Red Sparks is in Daejeon, which is quite far away. I believe she wanted this so she could be closer to her husband.


    There are talks that Yang Hyojin will retire after this coming season, as she only extended 1 contact with them.

    Quote from throwawayanyway

    Meanwhile, players like Heejin and Soyoung are paid an exorbitant amount of money and do not even play that much.

    There are now talks to change up the whole FA scheme as it has many limitations and is oftentimes pro-club than pro-player.

    Ideally they should increase the minimum salary for younger players which will force the team to limit the number of max salary cap players


    The only ones who deserve max or high salaries are KYK and Yang Hyojin, but Heejin, Soyoung, Park Jeongah definitely do not

    Especially Heejin & Soyoung whose careers are so filled with season-out injuries, I think they've barely played most of their careers

    Quote from suminj

    Ideally they should increase the minimum salary for younger players which will force the team to limit the number of max salary cap players


    The only ones who deserve max or high salaries are KYK and Yang Hyojin, but Heejin, Soyoung, Park Jeongah definitely do not

    Especially Heejin & Soyoung whose careers are so filled with season-out injuries, I think they've barely played most of their careers

    Yes, and I think there are now talks about players getting a lot of money in the league like Park Jeong Ah, Lee Soyoung and even Kang Sohwi being "cursed", seeing the dip in performance after signing huge checks.


    I think it affects them mentally, due to pressure from fans and club, since they are paid a lot of money (more money compared to even European / Turkish players).

    Quote from throwawayanyway

    Yes, and I think there are now talks about players getting a lot of money in the league like Park Jeong Ah, Lee Soyoung and even Kang Sohwi being "cursed", seeing the dip in performance after signing huge checks.


    I think it affects them mentally, due to pressure from fans and club, since they are paid a lot of money (more money compared to even European / Turkish players).

    Rather than being cursed, Sohwi was never a max contract level player

    She was good and I think teams recruited her hoping she had potential to get better, but imo she has already hit her potential


    Soyoung I will say after 20/21 with GS she had an insanely good season, but after that she was just always on the bench with injury

    This is a pessimistic view, but I feel like she only hustled that season due to her FA coming up...