From the beginning of the new year, Heungkuk Life Insurance, which fired the director and general manager at the same time, began to explain. Heungkuk Life Insurance admitted that the former general manager was involved in the rotation problem, but drew a line saying, “It is not an intervention in the appointment of players.”
Shin Yong-jun, the new head of Heungkuk Life Insurance, met with reporters prior to the 2022-2023 V-League Women’s V-League Heungkuk Life Insurance and GS Caltex game held at Incheon Samsan Gymnasium on the 5th and explained the reason for the dismissal of coach Kwon Soon-chan and Kim Yeo-il. Director Shin said, “(The club and the manager) did not intervene in the appointment of players,” and said, “There was a conflict over the rotation issue.” He also said, “The fans also had a lot of requests about the rotation problem. I think (the former general manager) gave advice to win.”
Earlier, on the 2nd, Heungkuk Life Insurance suddenly announced the resignation of general manager Kim Yeo-il and manager Kwon Soon-chan. ‘Difference in direction’ was the reason for hard work. The specific problem that Director Shin revealed on this day was how to arrange Kim Yeon-kyung and Yelena. Director Shin said, “Among the fans, there was an opinion that it would be nice if they were divided into before and after rather than having Kim Yeon-kyung and Yelena in the avant-garde. So it seems that (the general manager and the director) talked about that part, and they had conflicting opinions.”
However, Director Shin could not explain exactly how he grasped the so-called ‘fans’ demand’. In response to the question, “What criteria do you measure fans’ needs?” Shin said, “Fans talked about that on YouTube as well.” I know that people around me talk a lot.” Director Shin also answered “yes” to the question, “Is the fans’ thoughts closer to winning than the coach’s?”
The following is the full text of questions and answers from Shin Yong-jun, the new head of the team
. “I apologize in advance to the fans. Our volleyball team will support both physically and mentally so that the players can do their best with a good game in the future.”
—It is said that former general manager Kim Yeo-il intervened in the appointment of
players. It is true that there were conflicts over the management of the team. There was a conflict between the former general manager and the manager about the management of the team.”
—What exactly is the management of the squad?
“We disagreed with each other on the rotation issue.”
—Isn’t that a problem related to player appointment?
“It’s not like that. Among the fans, there was an opinion that it would be nice if Kim Yeon-kyung and Yelena were not together in the avant-garde, but divided into before and after. So, as we talked about that part, it seems that we had conflicting opinions.”
—Isn’t it the director’s full authority to decide how to place the two players
? That’s what I know, but I’m not exactly sure.” —Then
, does the new leader intend to intervene in such a tactical part in the future?
I’m not long now either. So I can’t get it right. First of all, I will communicate a lot with the players and coaches. We will operate while listening to the voices of the field.”
—Communication is two-way. In the end, I wonder if the director is going to talk to the director about things like ‘how I want the avant-garde to be done’, and that’s what I’m curious
about.
—Is the general manager in a position to sack the manager? In the end, didn’t someone listen to the story and pass it on to the director? Is it possible for the Taekwang Industrial Heungkuk Life Team to do that now? If you listen to the story of the previous manager, shouldn’t the owner have to repatriate?
“Owner means our owner, and the CEO of Heungkuk Life Insurance is the owner. There are all sorts of stories from the outside, but there is no such part.”
—Then, who is the subject of this manager
’s resignation?
—If you look at the club’s statement, they talked about the difference in direction due to hardship. Doesn’t that mean that the direction of the club and the direction of the coach did not match? Are you going to go in the direction the club thinks?
“I want to tell you this. The goal of running a volleyball team is to win. Our players have to win in order to be treated properly. It’s about communicating with each other to win. It is to work for the purpose of winning. I do not give or give any instructions unilaterally.”
—Then did the club think that manager Kwon Soon-chan would not be able to win?
“It is difficult to say. I came here with a sudden order. I don’t know that part. What I do is how to keep the players well in the future, and ultimately, the professional team has to win, so I do it to support that part. I honestly don’t know how I did it before.”
—It is said that there was a conflict with the former general manager and the manager, and on top of that, (the owner) played the role of referee, but the press release cited the reason that the direction was not right. Isn’t there a gap (of explanation) between the two? If there is a conflict between the two, there will be a judgment on which direction is more suitable, but now both have been sent out. Did the two fight and let go or was the direction of the club a problem?
“I can’t comment on that part right now. don’t know exactly I was also appointed on the 2nd, and I met the owner for the first time today. I don’t know exactly about that part.”
—To calm the squad and stop the agitation, there needs to be an explanation, but you just go to the squad and say, ‘Everything will be fine. It will be okay
.” I was the general manager for the 2015-2016 season. I know some players. Is there anyone in Heungkuk Life who is not interested in volleyball? I calmed down the players because I was still building ties with them. ‘The situation ahead is a bit difficult, but let’s work together and work hard again. Because there are fans’. ‘This is the game, so let’s do our best, and let’s have a good game in the future’, he persuaded.”
—What was the reaction of the team?
“It’s not my boast, there are some one-sided things with me. Starting with captain Kim Mi-yeon, the same goes for Kim Yeon-kyung. Senior players are the same as Kim Hae-ran. I think he is the type of person who understands a little more after talking with me.”
—A substitute system for the rest of the season?
“We plan to appoint (a new director) quickly. I will carefully consult with the people concerned and make a selection as soon as possible so that I do not make a mistake. We plan to work with the team to proceed with the remaining rounds.”
—(If there was no involvement in the selection of players) Does that mean that coach Kwon Soon-chan lied?
“It is not. Right now, I’m in a situation where I can’t accurately grasp ‘who lied or didn’t’. I don’t think I’m talking about that part like a witch hunt.”
—Does the captain define that being involved in the rotation is not being involved in the selection of players
? Because I know that there are a lot of things that fans have been asking for. And since I have to win, I think the advice went to that part for the purpose of winning.” —Captain, so there’s nothing wrong with talking about the rotation
, and do you think it’s something you can do enough as a captain?
As we said before, I think it is right to discuss and go like this in order to win.”
— You talked about the fans’ demands, what criteria are you measuring and collecting them?
“Fans talked about it on YouTube as well. Looking at other things, a lot of fans talked about that part. I know people around me talk a lot about it.”
—A fan is a fan, and a manager is a volleyball expert. Then do you think the fans story is closer to winning (than the manager)
?
—Can you see volleyball that reflects the club’s position more in the future
? If a new coach is appointed, there will be that philosophy, and there will be a long-term management method for teaching players. That is the role we support. It is a role that supports and operates, not a role that keeps intervening.”
—Have you been involved in the rotation when you were the general manager before? If not, did you not do it or did you think you shouldn’t?
“I didn’t. At that time, our power was very weak. There was no player Kim Yeon-kyung. It was a team that was at the bottom for five years. Kim Yeon-kyung went out and did this. At that time, rather than talking about how to rotate, I left it to the manager and operated it.”
—If you are a team that is in last place, shouldn’t you talk more? I’m on my way to No. 1 right now, but I don’t understand why people talk about it.
“My grades are so bad, but talking about it doesn’t mean that this will change overnight. If you could go with a certain goal, wouldn’t it be better to communicate with each other about it like this? It’s a team that’s at the bottom, so there’s nothing more you could ask for. At that time, it was made into a team preparing for next year.” 스포츠토토
—Didn’t you appoint director Kwon because you think he’s the right person for you? What are the next supervision conditions? You mentioned a philosophy earlier, but if that philosophy doesn’t match with the fans now, does that mean that the director could be fired again
? It’s not that we run the volleyball team so ruthlessly. Anyway, you have to be loved by your fans, and you can’t do without them. You also have to win. There is Kim Yeon-kyung, but if we can’t win, it’s okay. Player Kim Yeon-kyung also wants to win. If possible, we try to go in the form of support in order to create a winning force.”
—Director Kwon Soon-chan says he works as an advisor. How, specifically?
“I know we do it because it’s something we have to treat. In particular, if you do not re-employ somewhere else, you will be treated as torture.”
—If the general manager and the manager didn’t get along, couldn’t it have been possible to just go with one person? Did the club not get involved in the conflict at all?
“I know that.”
—If the situation where you are aiming for the championship comes again like now, do you think it is okay to intervene in the rotation then?
“It is not like that. You keep talking about rotation, but I gave you an example.”
—Is it true that the role of general manager is part of giving instructions about the rotation?
“no. That’s not it.”
—Hasn’t that been consistently said so far?
“That was a matter between the former general manager and the manager. What I am saying now is that I will communicate with the field and fully reflect the opinions of the staff and players in running the volleyball team in the future. We are going to go with a system that supports it. There’s something I haven’t quite figured out yet. Next time, our game will continue, and I will tell you more if needed at that time. The part where the players are very anxious has now calmed down a bit. I believe you will do well today. I hope that everyone will support us so that we can produce good results.”