All you need to know about Kim Yeon Koung, the South Korean professional volleyball player

All you need to know about Kim Yeon Koung, the South Korean professional volleyball player

Claudia Kogi
updated at November 28, 2023 at 5:10 PM

Kim Yeon Koung is a professional volleyball player from South Korea, captain of the South Korean women's international team, and a former member of the FIVB Athletes' Commission. She is one athlete widely regarded as one of the best players in the world, with 35 domestic medals and over 40 individual awards, both club and international.

Kim Yeon Koung's age
Koung Kim celebrates after the play against Team Serbia during the Women's Bronze Medal match at Ariake Arena on 8 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Toru Hanai (Modified by author)
Source: Getty Images

Aside from being one of the best volleyball players in the world, Kim is also known to be among the wealthiest in the sport. As a result, she has amassed significant fan bases across social media platforms like Instagram and (X) Twitter. The heights Kim Yeon Koung has reached in her journey have made headlines for years, and a peek into her biography reveals more about the world-famous athlete.

Kim Yeon Koung's profile summary

Full name

Kim Yeon Koung

Date of birth

26 February 1988

Age

35 years as of November 2023

Place of birth

Ansan, South Korea

Nationality

Korean

Ethnicity

Asian

Zodiac sign

Pisces

Religion

Christianity

Parents

Kim Gil and Lee Keum-Ok

Sister

Kim Hye-Kyung

Weight

161 pounds or 73 kilograms

Height

6 feet 4 inches or 192 centimetres

Hair colour

Black

Eye colour

Dark brown

Profession

Profession volleyball player

Position

Outside hitter

Net worth

Between $1 million and $2 million

Social media

Instagram, X(Twitter)

Kim Yeon Koung's bio

Kim Yeon (age 35 years as of November 2023) was born on 26 February 1988 in Ansan, South Korea, to Kim Gil and Lee Keum-Ok and is a Korean national of Asian ancestry. She has one sibling, Kim Hye-Kyung, who is a volleyball enthusiast like her.

Regarding her physical stats, Kim Yeon Koung stands at the height of 6 feet 3 inches or 191 centimetres, weighs 161 pounds or 73 kilograms, and her shoe size is 13.5 US. She has black hair and dark brown eyes.

Kim Yeon Koung's accomplishments
Yeon celebrates after the play against Team Turkey during the Women's Quarterfinals volleyball match at Ariake Arena on 4 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Toru Hanai
Source: Getty Images

Career

Kim Yeon Koung pursued soccer at Hanil Women's High School, and after three years of immense practice, she allegedly grew 20 centimetres taller. Ultimately, it became more than a significant step for her as she embarked on her career path as a volleyball player.

It was a matter of time before she was selected for the South Korean National Team in 2005. Yeon presented worldwide at the World Grand Champions Cup as the third-best scorer. Her skills were undeniably incredible, and she became a sought-after personality in no time.

Professionally, she played for the Japanese V Premier League from 2009 to 2011 and became the best scorer and spiker of the 2011 Asian Championship. After that, she signed with Fenerbahce, where she played from 2011 to 2017.

Kim Yeon Koung's position
Koung reacts after the play against team Serbia during the Women's Preliminaries at Ariake Arena on 2 August 2021 in Tokyo, Japan. Photo: Toru Hanai
Source: Getty Images

It was during the London Olympics in 2012 that Kim Koung displayed her best and most incredible performances. Consequently, she was awarded the MVP of the 2012 London Olympics and chosen as one of the FIVB Heroes. After she finished her agreement with Fenerbahce, she later moved to Shanghai, where she played for the Chinese Super League & V League.

Kim Yeon Koung's accomplishments

The Korean-based professional volleyball player has bagged some of the most lucrative awards and honours. Some of them include,

  • (2004) U19 Asian Championship as the best scorer
  • (2005) U17 Asian Championship as the best scorer
  • (2005) U17 Asian Championship as the best receiver
  • (2009) FIVB World Grand Champions Cup as the best scorer
  • (2009) Asian Championship as the best scorer
  • (2010) AVC Asian Cup as the best scorer
  • (2010) AVC Asian Cup as the best spiker
  • (2011) Asian Championship as the best scorer
  • (2011) Asian Championship as the best spiker
  • (2012) Summer Olympics World Qualification Tournament as the best scorer
  • (2012) Summer Olympics World Qualification Tournament as the best spiker
  • (2013) Asian Championship as the best scorer
  • (2013) Asian Championship as the best scorer
  • (2014) AVC Asian Cup as the best outside spiker
  • (2015) Asian Championship as the best outside spiker
  • (2016) Summer Olympics World Qualification Tournament as the best outside spiker
  • (2017) Asian Championship as the best outside spiker
  • (2019) Asian Championship as the best outside spiker
  • (2023) TIRTIR Popularity Star Award
  • (2022) Female CF Model

What is Kim Yeon Koung's net worth?

According to Rookie Road, the professional athlete has an estimated net worth lingering between $1 million and $2 million. She is among the wealthiest female volleyball players in the world as of 2023.

Aside from her career earnings, she also generates her income from brand endorsement deals with vast brands like Pounding Chicken, Barilla Pasta, Hi Mart, Mizuno Volleyball Shoes, SEP beauty care products, Nivea, UA Rush, FSN, World Con, and many more.

Frequently asked questions

Aside from her name and the volleyball skills she displays, most of her fans often want to discover other details like her place of birth, parents, siblings, how much she is worth, and so on. Below are some frequently asked questions her fans have on their minds.

1. Where was Kim Yeon Koung born?

She was born in Ansan, South Korea.

2. What is the name of Kim Yeon Koung's older sister?

Her older sister is Kim Hye-Kyung.

Kim Yeon Koung has a sister
Captain Kim Yeon attends a press conference of FIVB Volleyball Women's Club World Championship Shaoxing 2019 on 2 December 2019 in Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China. Photo: VCG
Source: Getty Images

3. What are Kim Koung's most recent awards?

The professional athlete has recently been awarded the Asian Championship as the best outside spiker (2019), the Female CF Model (2022), and the TIRTIR Popularity Star Award (2023).

4. Does Kim Yeon have kids?

The professional athlete has yet to have any kids as of November 2023. Moreover, she is not in any relationship.

5. When did Kim Yeon Koung start playing volleyball?

She started playing the sport in 4th grade and debuted professionally in 2005.

6. Is Kim Yeon Koung married?

The Korean-based professional athlete is reportedly single as of November 2023. She has not disclosed any details regarding her relationships.

7. Is Kim Yeon Koung on Instagram?

Well, the famous professional player is a dynamic personality on social media platforms where he boasts significant fan bases. On Instagram, she boasts over 1.6 million followers and 191k followers on (X) Twitter as of November 2023.

She often uploads photos and videos on the platforms documenting her life outside of volleyball and her leisure activities. Additionally, she endorses products of various brands like Activia and many others.

Final word

Although Kim Yeon Koung has been utterly discreet about her personal life, her success in her area of specialisation is an undeniable feature of her. In the position of the South Korean women's international team and a former member of the FIVB Athletes' Commission, she has won the hearts of many, boasting significant fan bases across social media platforms.

READ MORE: Ranking the top 10 players with the most steals in an NBA game

Sports Brief published a list of top basketball stars with the most steals in an NBA game. Traditionally, taller and well-built men are believed to have the best defensive record.

However, shorter players with fast speed and precision are also well-equipped to take away the ball from their opponents. Follow the above link to understand more.

Authors
Claudia Kogi photo
Claudia Kogi
Claudia Kogi is a Kenyan content creator with over 3 years of experience. Claudia joined Sportsbrief.com as a writer in January 2022, covering sports and relatable content.