‘Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung’ has simultaneously revealed the lineup of 7 players to watch and the second poster.
The new MBC entertainment program ‘Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung’ (directed by Kwon Rak-hee, Choi Yoon-young, Lee Jae-woo) is set to premiere on September 28 at 9:10 PM, featuring the legendary volleyball queen Kim Yeon-koung returning as a rookie director for her club establishment project.
With an unprecedented career in volleyball history, Kim Yeon-koung is making headlines as she returns not as a player but as a director. Today (10th), the ‘Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung’ team introduced several key players from the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’. The lineup of seven unique players, including Pyo Seung-joo, Lee Jin, Kim Na-hee, Lee Na-yeon, Inku-shi, Gu Sol, and Yoon Young-in, heightens anticipation for the main broadcast.
This project serves as a stage for players who have been released from professional teams, those dreaming of entering the professional scene from amateur teams, and those hoping to return after retirement—essentially, for those who have missed opportunities or have yet to seize them. The ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’ team, comprised of players who have become ‘underdogs’ for various reasons, aims to rise again as ‘wonders’.
Pyo Seung-joo, a former national team member who is currently undergoing retirement procedures after not being signed as a free agent this year, joins the team. Having played as an outside hitter, he is one of the veteran players in women's volleyball and is expected to solidly support the core of the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’.
Setter Lee Jin, once considered a promising player for the professional team ‘IBK Industrial Bank’, also joins. Released as a free agent, she remains a talent that the volleyball community regrets losing, often referred to as the ‘beauty setter’ in the volleyball world. With both looks and skills, former promising setter Lee Jin has seized her last chance to bloom her potential. Kim Na-hee, who played for 17 years with Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders and was loved by fans as a ‘one-club veteran’, is also part of the team. After a bittersweet farewell to her former team, Kim Na-hee has come down to the amateur stage but aims for a comeback with her still-sharp skills.
Former promising player Lee Na-yeon, who suddenly announced her retirement giving up 160 million won, also joins the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’. Lee Na-yeon’s return signifies more than just a simple comeback. Additionally, Inku-shi from Mongolia has also been added to the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’. As an outside hitter, Inku-shi has been living alone in Korea for three years, dreaming of the Korean professional stage after coming to Korea for volleyball studies. Having proven her potential by ranking first in the college league scoring category, she has finally seized the opportunity to make a name for herself with Kim Yeon-koung’s selection.
Lastly, Gu Sol and Yoon Young-in also contribute to the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’. Gu Sol, who has been released twice from the Korean V-League, is currently challenging herself in overseas leagues. Despite being overlooked, she is determined to make a comeback with Kim Yeon-koung’s team. Yoon Young-in, who has been active in an amateur team for seven years after being eliminated in the draft, has been called the ‘queen of the amateur league’. While she is a top player in the amateur scene, she has yet to connect with the professional stage, and there is keen interest in how Yoon Young-in will grow in this team.
Thus, the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’ team is composed of individuals with diverse narratives. The stories of these seven key players, who are likely familiar names in the volleyball community, are intriguing. The second poster released alongside features Kim Yeon-koung holding a volleyball with former players gathered around the court, capturing attention.
It raises curiosity about how they were selected through tryouts and what kind of teamwork they will display. Along with the stories of other players yet to be revealed, anticipation is building for the journey of the ‘Winning Wonder Dogs’, who will be reborn as ‘wonders’ on the court under the guidance of rookie director Kim Yeon-koung.
MBC's new entertainment program ‘Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung’ is produced with the support of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Korea Communications Agency (KCA), and is set to premiere on September 28 at 9:10 PM.
[Kim So-yeon, Star Today Reporter]
