▲ Yoon Kyung, regarded as the top attacker in college volleyball, poses after being selected by OK Financial Group with the number one overall pick in the 2026-2027 KOVO Men's Rookie Player Draft held at the Mayfield Hotel in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on the 28th. (Photo: KOVO, Yonhap News)
Yoon Kyung, widely considered the top attacker in college volleyball, has been selected by OK Financial Group as the number one overall pick in the professional volleyball rookie draft.
Yoon was chosen by OK Financial Group, which secured the first-round draft pick, at the 2026-2027 KOVO Men's Rookie Player Draft held at the Mayfield Hotel in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, today (the 28th).
OK Financial Group, which had a 30 percent chance of landing the top pick, called Yoon's name without hesitation.
Yoon is recognized as the top college attacker who served as the primary weapon for the under-21 men's national team and is considered a next-generation ace for the national squad.
Even last year while attending his freshman year of college, he was regarded as the biggest catch available in the rookie draft, but he opted not to participate then. By submitting his application this year, he emerged as the top priority for all clubs.
Hyundai Capital, which secured the second overall pick despite having only two balls in the lottery drum, selected Hanyang University sophomore middle blocker Jang Eun-seok (203 cm).
The third pick, Woori Card, called the name of Joongbu University senior attacker Jeon Yu-seok (200 cm), while the fourth pick, KB Insurance, selected Hanyang University junior attacker Jang Bo-seok (196 cm).
Brothers Jang Eun-seok and Jang Bo-seok will debut in the professional league in the same season.
The fifth pick, Kepco, chose Yeo Kwang-woo (176.3 cm), an Inha University sophomore libero and the eldest son of national team coach and legendary libero Yeo Oh-hyun.
Yeo Kwang-woo started his career as a setter before following in his father's footsteps to transition into a libero, leading Inha University's dominant run alongside Yoon this year.
Inha University sophomore middle blocker Im In-gyu (193 cm) was also selected by Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance with the sixth pick.
V-League defending champions Korean Air chose Lee Seung-il (195.1 cm), a senior attacker at Suncheon Jeil High School born in April 2008, with the seventh pick in the first round.
The draft selection order was determined by a lottery based on the reverse order of last season's final standings.
A total of 100 balls were placed into the lottery drum: 35 for Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, 30 for OK Financial Group, 20 for KEPCO, 8 for KB Insurance, 4 for Woori Card, 2 for Hyundai Capital, and 1 for Korean Air.
This year's draft drew a record-high total of 59 participants, including 5 high school graduates-to-be, 48 college students, and 6 players from corporate or amateur club teams.
This marks the first time that more than 50 players have participated in the men's rookie draft.
The previous record high was 48 players during the 2024-2025 and 2025-2026 rookie drafts.
The high turnout for this year's draft is attributed to the Korea Volleyball Federation's (KOVO) recent decision to abolish the entrance fee for male rookies starting from the 2027-2028 season.
KOVO announced the abolition of the entrance fee as the proportion of drafted players capable of immediately contributing to the team has been low, alongside an increase in players transitioning to free agent status shortly after joining.
However, the federation stated that it will increase school support funds from 100 million won to 150 million won, and raise the compensation for first-round drafted players from 40 million won to 60 million won.
As a result, as many as 18 elite players below their senior year in college applied.
Among the seven players selected in the first round of the rookie draft, only one is a college senior.
Players entering the professional ranks through this year's draft will receive entrance fees scaled differentially by their draft position: 160 million won for the 1st and 2nd picks, 140 million won for the 3rd and 4th picks, 120 million won for the 5th and 6th picks, and 110 million won for the 7th pick.
The annual salary is fixed at 40 million won, while training players will receive 24 million won.
(Photo courtesy of Korea Volleyball Federation, Yonhap News)
※
Copying, redistribution, and unauthorized use in AI training are strictly prohibited.