Kim Yeon-Koung
First of all, you are under a contract with Turkey’s Fenerbahce. Your original club Heungkuk Life is in opposition so you’re having a conflict, right?
“Yes. Well, I wanted to play in Turkey so I went to Turkey, and now to participate in the world championships, I’m in Doha, Qatar. Heungkuk life opposed, so I’m not sure if I can play at the first game on the 15th.“
What seems to be the problem?
“According to the regulations of the FIVB, I become a free agent after playing 6 years in Heungkuk, but after playing in Heungkuk for 4 years, I was abroad as transfer for 3 years. International regulations say playing as transfer counts as playing for the original club, so it’s more than 6 years, but in Korea because there are no rules regarding transfers, Heungkuk is claiming that during the transfer period I am not their player, so that has resulted in us going to the international federation.”
Yesterday, the international federation has sided with Heungkuk. Why is that?
“There was a three-way agreement made. In the document Heungkuk Life, KVA and I agreed, there was verbiage about returning to Heungkuk after 2 years, but if the FIVB decision is made, it says we are going to follow that decision. So when we made the agreement, they said the document will not be released, they were not supposed to use it, but KVA sent it to the FIVB, and when they saw it, they deduced that the player was in agreement also, and the unfavorable decision was made.”
Also the international federation said, ‘it’s right that you are a free agent, but why did you sign the agreement?‘ So are you saying the agreement made it worse?
“Yes. They say the decision was made because of the agreement, but I couldn’t not write the agreement because at that time, they told me that they would not send me to Turkey, I had to go to Turkey to practice, the competition started on the 15th, and I’m under the contract with the team, so they wanted me to come promptly. So I had to just write the agreement and go.”
Then what will happen from now on?
“Well, I want to find out if there was no agreement, if that was not a factor, what would have happened. I want to try to get the decision whether Kim Yeon-Koung is indeed free.”
Yes. If it is not accepted, what will happen? Will you need to go back and play for Heungkuk?
“Umm… Well, the situation now is that Fenerbahce might give up on me, and it seems hard to refocus and try to play. In some ways, this is an important time for me enough to even consider retirement in Korea.”
That’s a shame. Hope to hear good news.
“Ah yes, thank you.”
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