"Kkotsaseum" Hwang Yeonju Leaves the Beloved Court... "Starting a New Chapter in Life"

V-League Founding Member, Rookie of the Year and MVP Winner
300 Service Aces and 5,000 Total Points Over 22 Years
Plans for Diverse Activities, Including Broadcasting and Coaching

South Korean women's volleyball star player Hwang Yeonju, known as "Kkotsaseum" ("Flower Deer"), of Korea Expressway Corporation, is retiring.

Opposite spiker Hwang Yeonju said on the 19th, "I am deeply grateful to the fans, the club, and my teammates who have supported me generously and given me more love than I deserve, allowing me to play as Hwang Yeonju on the court. Although my career as a player is coming to an end, I will be considering various paths so that I can continue to meet volleyball fans through opportunities in broadcasting or coaching. I hope you will also give your support to my second chapter in life."

Hwang Yeonju leaves the code she was fond of. Photo by Korea Expressway Corporation

Hwang Yeonju debuted as a founding member of the V-League in 2005, winning Rookie of the Year. Over 22 years, she stayed on the court, becoming the first player among both men and women to achieve 300 career aces and 5,000 total points. While playing, she achieved six championships in total. During the 2010–2011 season with Hyundai Engineering & Construction, she led her team to a combined championship, winning both the regular season and championship finals MVP awards.

Her team, Korea Expressway Corporation, proposed extending her playing career, but Hwang Yeonju expressed her wish to retire gracefully while still at the top of her game, leading to her departure from the court. In the V-League, she played in 510 matches, recording 5,868 points (3rd overall), 1,269 back-row points (2nd), and 461 service aces (1st).

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.