Foreign-National Compatriots Eligible for V-League Draft for First Time

For the first time in 21 years since the launch of professional volleyball, compatriots without South Korean citizenship will challenge the V-League.

The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) announced today (October 12) that foreign-national compatriot players will participate in the 2026-2027 KOVO Women's Rookie Draft, scheduled for October 28 at the Mayfield Hotel in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

During the 3rd Board of Directors meeting for the 22nd term last December, the Volleyball Federation resolved to allow foreign-national compatriot players to participate in the rookie draft starting from the 2026-2027 season.

Under Article 61 of the regulations (Foreign-National Compatriot Players), players whose at least one parent previously held South Korean citizenship or who are children of current South Korean citizens while holding foreign citizenship are eligible to enter the rookie draft.

For this draft, setter Audrey Park (Korean name Park Hye-rin) and outside hitter Annabel Park (Korean name Park Ju-eun) are knocking on the doors of the V-League.

Audrey Park served as the starting setter for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) volleyball team and played for the Columbus Fury in Major League Volleyball (MLV) in the United States last season.

Annabel Park belongs to Ontario Tech University in Canada.

Foreign-national compatriot players will receive the same treatment as domestic players, and each club can select one player per season and hold a maximum of two.

Following the application period from September 17 to October 8, the Volleyball Federation announced that a total of 58 players—consisting of 50 high school graduation hopefuls, 6 university enrolled students, and 2 foreign-national compatriot players—will await being called by clubs in the draft.

Among the high school graduation hopefuls, notable prospects include Yu Da-eun of Geun-young Girls' High School and Jung Ga-young of Ilsil Girls' High School, both members of the under-18 (U-18) national team in 2024, and Oh Se-in of Jungang Girls' High School (all opposite/outside hitters), who was a member of the under-21 (U-21) national team in 2025.

The draft selection order for this year will be determined by a lottery based on the reverse order of last season's final standings.

The draft selection lottery probabilities for each club are 35% for Red Sparks, 30% for SOOP Supers, 20% for IBK Altos, 8% for Pink Spiders, 4% for Hillstate, 2% for Korea Expressway Corporation Hi-pass, and 1% for GS Caltex.

Changes in rookie draft picks by club resulting from off-season trades are also drawing attention.

Red Sparks traded Pyo Seung-joo and their 2026-2027 season second-round draft pick to Pink Spiders, securing Pink Spiders' 2026-2027 season first-round pick to exercise two first-round selections.

The new team SOOP Supers sent Jung Sol-min to IBK Altos and secured Ko Eui-jung and a second-round draft pick.

Hillstate conducted a trade last year when acquiring Kim Hee-jin, giving IBK Altos the 2026-2027 season second-round rookie draft pick and cash.
 
(Photo provided by Korea Volleyball Federation, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.