Korea Collegiate Volleyball Federation Protests KOVO's Abolition of Rookie Entrance Fees

The Korea Collegiate Volleyball Federation (KCVF) has expressed regret, stating that the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced its plan to abolish entrance fees for rookie male professional volleyball players starting in the 2027-2028 season without sufficient consultation.

The KCVF stated on the 15th, "On the 4th, we sent an official letter requesting discussions regarding changes to the draft system and bylaws, but KOVO only conveyed its decision verbally," adding, "KOVO must step forward for official consultations even now."

The KCVF pointed out, "As KOVO has signaled the abolition of entrance fees, players currently in their first, second, or third years of university may perceive this year's draft as their last opportunity to receive an entrance fee under the current system," and expressed concern that "this could prompt many players to enter this year's draft."

It continued, "Players choosing to turn professional right after high school graduation could also be affected by these institutional changes," adding, "If the number of players advancing to universities decreases and enrolled students leave for the pros early, university teams will face severe difficulties in player recruitment, and some universities may struggle just to keep their teams running."

The federation also emphasized, "It should not be judged that there is a problem with player development in college volleyball simply because there is a shortage of immediate impact players ready for collegiate teams."

On the 14th, KOVO announced the results of its 23rd term 2nd board of directors meeting and general meeting, stating that it has decided to abolish entrance fees for rookie male players starting from the 2027-2028 season.

In addition, KOVO explained that this decision is based on the judgment that "there is a shortage of players recruited through recent rookie drafts who can be utilized as immediate contributors, and with an increasing rate of players being converted to free agents within a short period after joining, the practical effect of reinforcing team strength has been limited."

However, it was decided to increase the school support fund per club from 100 million won to 150 million won, and the salary for first-round drafted players from 40 million won to 60 million won.

(Photo provided by KOVO, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.