Lee So-young transferred to IBK Industrial Bank

Lee So-young (30), an outside hitter representing Korean women's volleyball, left CheongKwanJang and transferred to IBK Industrial Bank of Korea. Lee So-young, who wore the new uniform after much thought, said, “She was offered good conditions at IBK, and she decided she could win with her good members on the new team.” “She will take better care of her body so that she can perform well,” she said.

IBK announced on the 15th that it had signed Lee So-young for up to 700 million won per year (annual salary 450 million won, option 250 million won). This is a huge amount of money, totaling 2.1 billion won over three years.

IBK, which ranked 5th last season, raised expectations for victory by simultaneously recruiting national team middle blocker Joo-ah Lee along with So-young Lee.

In a phone call with ‘News 1’ on the 15th, Lee So-young said, “It was a difficult decision to change teams,” and added, “I decided to transfer because IBK told me that they really needed me. I was attracted to coach Kim Ho-cheol's story of 'Let's win IBK together.' “I was contacted several times before, so I was able to sign a contract with gratitude,” he said.

Lee So-young, who joined GS Caltex as the first pick in the first round of the 2012-13 season, transferred to CheongKwanJang ahead of the 2021-22 season. IBK is the third professional team in my career.

He said, “When I go to a new team, it won’t be easy to adapt right away because the environment and exercise style are different,” but “I still think the second time (free agent transfer) might be better.” I will endure. “It has to be done anyway, so we have to do it,” he emphasized.

Lee So-young, who left CheongKwanJang and headed to IBK, said, “Of course there is regret in parting. (Cheong Kwan-jang) said, “I made it to the playoffs, but I was very disappointed that I couldn’t play due to injury.” 

He continued, “I’m happy, but sad, worried, and have all kinds of thoughts. “It is true that I felt a lot of pressure and worry,” he said, honestly confessing, “I am the type of person who worries a lot, so it was a little difficult mentally.”

However, Soyoung Lee chose her new challenge, and IBK wants Soyoung Lee to ‘win’. Soyoung Lee is an outside hitter with stable receiving and decent offensive ability.

He experienced a combined championship in 2020-21 during his time at GS Caltex. IBK coach Kim Ho-cheol expected, “The team will be able to find more stability with the addition of the experienced Lee So-young.”

Lee So-young emphasized, “First of all, since he is still in rehabilitation, his body needs to be completely strengthened,” and “I will perform well for three years without injury in the new team.”

Lee So-young, who left the team due to an ankle injury at the end of the 2023-24 season, is not yet 100% fit, but is improving her condition by focusing on rehabilitation. The goal for the new team is to play full-time with a ‘healthy’ Lee So-young and help the team reach a higher level. He said, “The director also relieved me of the burden by saying, ‘You can just do what you did,’ rather than asking me to do anything else. He said, “I will definitely live up to your expectations as IBK recruited me because they wanted me.” 온라인섯다