KB Insurance’s outside hitter Han Sung-jung (27) will wear the jersey of her hometown team Woori Card again.
According to a report by ‘iNews24’, KB Insurance and Woori Card confirmed that they will make a trade on the 25th, exchanging Han Sung-jung for setter Hwang Seung-bin (31).
With this trade, Han Sung-jung will return to her home team after a year and a half.
Han made his professional debut after being selected by Woori Card with the No. 1 overall pick in the rookie draft ahead of the 2017-18 season and played four seasons, helping the organization reach its first postseason and championship game in franchise history.
After becoming one of Woori Card’s mainstays, Han left for KB Insurance via trade in December 2021. In his first season with the organization, he helped KB Insurance achieve its highest-ever finish, finishing second in the regular season and reaching the championship game for the first time in its history.
After the 2021-22 season, Han became a free agent (FA) and signed a contract with KB Insurance, choosing to stay.
However, KB Insurance’s signing of national outside hitters Na Kyung-bok (29) and Hwang Kyung-min (27) in free agency, as well as the addition of Liu Hung-min (30-Taiwan) through the Asia Quarter, signaled a stiff competition for the starting role.
In the end, the trade was finalized when KB Insurance, which needed to bolster its setter lineup as its main setter Hwang Taek-u (27) joined the Armed Forces Athletic Corps (Commerce), and Woori Card, which needed an outside hitter, aligned their interests.
Woori Card, which selected Matej Kok (27-Slovenia) in the foreign player draft, is expected to use Song Hee-chae (31) and Han Sung-jung as outside hitters.스포츠토토
Kim Ji-han (23), who had a breakout season last year, will likely rotate between the outside hitter spot and the outside hitter position held by Issei Otake (28-Japan), who joined the team as an Asian quarterback.
Without Hwang Seung-bin, the setters will consist of Lee Seung-won (30) and second-year rookie Han Tae-joon (19).
With Hwang Seung-bin’s addition, KB Insurance will be able to add more weight to its setter lineup.
Hwang, who has played for Korean Air, Samsung Fire, and Woori Card, is the perfect fit for KB Insurance, which was facing a season with two inexperienced setters in Shin Seung-hoon (23) and Park Hyun-bin (19).
Hwang Kyung-min and Liu Hong-min are likely to start at outside hitter, with Hong Sang-hyuk (25) and Jung Dong-geun (28) also ready to contribute, as Han Sung-jung’s departure and free agent signing Na Kyung-bok is set to retire in October 2024.