Kim Yeon-koung
South Korean female volleyball star Kim Yeon-koung will be allowed to play overseas this season after all, the local governing body of the sport said.
The Korea Volleyball Federation said it has decided to ratify Kim’s controversial move from South Korean team Heungguk Life Pink Spiders to Turkey’s Fenerbahce.
Park Sung-min, vice chairman of the KOVO, announced the decision after a meeting among officials of the KOVO, the Korean Olympic Committee, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Pink Spiders.
“We have decided to issue the international transfer certificate for Kim as early as we can,” Park said, referring to the document necessary to complete international transactions.
Kim’s status has been a hot potato in South Korean volleyball since July, when she signed a two-year deal with Fenerbahce. Last year, she competed in one season for the Turkish club on loan from Heungguk Life.
Kim was the leading scorer at the London Olympics and helped South Korea reach the semifinals. Last season, she was named MVP of the CEV Champions League, the highest level of European club volleyball competition, as Fenerbahce claimed the title. (Yonhap News)
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