Heo Soo-bong, considered the top prize in the men's professional volleyball free agent (FA) market, will remain with his original team Hyundai Capital on the largest contract in V-League history.
According to the men's FA contract results announced by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) on Wednesday, Heo signed with Hyundai Capital for total compensation of 1.3 billion won ($960,000), including an 800 million won base salary and 500 million won in incentives. The deal surpasses the previous men's volleyball record of 1.2 billion won held by Hwang Taek-eui, who earned a 900 million won salary and 300 million won in incentives.
Hyundai Capital also retained starting setter Hwang Seung-bin on a 600 million won deal, minimizing the loss of talent from its roster.
Korean Air, which claimed the treble championship last season, kept both Cho Jae-young (270 million won) and Yoo Kwang-woo (250 million won).
Woori Card, which had the most FAs on the market with four players, re-signed all of them: Park Jin-woo (422 million won), Oh Jae-sung (422 million won), Lee Sang-hyun (602 million won) and Kim Young-jun (342 million won). Samsung Fire re-signed Kim Woo-jin (390 million won) and Lee Sang-wook (360 million won).
Three players switched teams in this FA market: Kim Do-hoon, Jang Ji-won and Lee Min-kyu. Originally with KB Insurance, Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEPCO) and OK Savings Bank respectively, the trio found new homes in what resembled a three-way trade.
Kim Do-hoon moved to OK Savings Bank on a 250 million won deal, Jang Ji-won joined KB Insurance for 300 million won, and Lee Min-kyu transferred to KEPCO for 600 million won.
