First-Ever Korean-American Rookie Born... "I Dream of Becoming the Oldest Rookie of the Year"

[Anchor]

For the first time in history, a Korean-American player has been selected as the number one overall pick in the women's volleyball rookie draft. Let's meet 24-year-old setter Audrey Park, who has come from the United States.

Reporter Kim Jin-woo has the story.

[Reporter]

Born in San Francisco, USA, Audrey Park started playing volleyball at age nine, graduated from UCLA, and played as a starting-level setter in the U.S. professional league last season.

She had always dreamed of playing in her maternal grandmother's home country of Korea, and decided to take on the challenge in the Korean stage after the draft was opened to foreign-national overseas Korean players last year.

And at today's rookie draft,

[Manabe Masayoshi / Head Coach, IBK Altos: IBK selects Audrey Park from UCLA.]

She donned the IBK jersey as the number one overall pick.

[Audrey Park: Hello, my name is Audrey Park. I am so grateful to be picked first and so thankful to the league for the opportunity.]

Citing consistent tosses as her strength, Audrey Park expressed confidence in adapting to the changing environment, ranging from training methods to dormitory life and food.

[Audrey Park: I love Korean food. My grandmother made me a lot of delicious Korean food. I especially like sujebi.]

Her family, who crossed the Pacific Ocean to attend the draft in person, were moved to tears.

[Kim Young-hee / Audrey Park's Maternal Grandmother: It's a homeland I've always missed. I feel like crying... I can't believe it and I'm so happy.]

Embarking on this challenge at 24—not a young age for a rookie—Audrey Park's goal is to become the oldest Rookie of the Year.

[Audrey Park: I think it's a fun and unique situation that I'm recognized as a rookie even at 24. Playing in Korea was my dream, so I'm really looking forward to it.]

(Video footage captured by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video edited by Hwang Ji-young | Design by Taeyoung | Video source: YouTube 'Big Ten Volleyball')
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.