"There was no plan B."

Kim Jong-min (50), head coach of the Korea Expressway Corporation, who recruited Kang So-hwi (27), who heated up the F.A. market in the V League in 2024, smiled broadly. "I will rebound in the upcoming season with Kang So-hwi," he said after experiencing ups and downs this season after winning the miraculous "reverse sweep" in the 2022-23 season.

In a recent interview with News 1, head coach Kim conveyed the story of the FA recruitment battle, which was hot during the offseason.

The Korea Expressway Corporation sent a love call to Kang So-hwi, a former outside heater of GS Caltex who became an FA, and eventually succeeded in recruiting him.

"We were all in on Kang from the beginning without a plan B," coach Kim said. "I had confidence that I could enlist, but I was also worried about what I would do if it didn't work out. Still, I'm really glad that it ended well."

The Korea Expressway Corporation ranked sixth among the seven teams with 12 wins and 24 losses (39 points) in the 2022-23 season. The result was expected to some extent due to the absence of Jung Dae-young (GS Caltex, now retired) and Park Jung-ah (Pepper Savings Bank), but the team's firepower in the outside heater in particular fell.

"I had a lot of worries about strengthening my power, but there was no player like So-hwi," coach Kim said. "I wanted to bring him back somehow because he is a perfect style for the Korea Expressway Corporation. As a result, the fact that (Kang) So-hwi came to Gimcheon itself means that he had a successful FA season."

Coach Kim Jong-min met with Kang So-hwi immediately on the morning of the FA disclosure and expressed his intention to recruit him. Crucially, Kang So-hwi did his best to win the hearts of his acquaintances by going to the local area where he went on a trip to Singapore.

After hearing that setter Lee Yoon-jung was an elementary school classmate with Kang So-hwi, he also gave her a mission to "tell me a lot of good stories" as a joke and a true story.

"I've never done this to anyone before," he said, smiling awkwardly, "I thought I could bring him back, but I didn't know. (So) I really didn't look back. We talked about this and that while eating (in Singapore), and as a result, we (sincere) connected well."

Coach Kim Jong-min, who took the helm of the Korea Expressway Corporation in March 2016, has already spent eight seasons with only one team. He led the team in eight seasons, the most among male and female coaches.

Kim first stepped down as a women's leader in 2016 after serving as a coach, acting coach and coach for Inha University. He renewed his contract with the Korea Expressway Corporation through the 2025-26 season last year, and was guaranteed 10 seasons in a team.

Having earned the nickname "Kimcheon Master," Kim said, "Time flies. There were times when I had a hard time, but I had a lot of luck. Now, Gimcheon is more comfortable than anywhere else. It's too cold if you come up to Seoul or upper side after being in Gimcheon. Gimcheon is the most comfortable place."  실시간 바카라사이트

"It will definitely be different this coming season. So-hwi is here, and I will prepare well again to shake off last season's sluggishness," he said.