Wonju DB officially announced the signing of free agent (FA) Kim Young-hyun on the 16th. The contract is for a period of three years with a compensation of 150 million won (130 million won in salary and 20 million won in incentives). Selected by the Ulsan Mobis (now Ulsan Hyundai Mobis) with the 10th pick in the first round of the 2013 KBL Rookie Draft, Kim will be playing for a new team 10 years after his debut.
“I’m honored to be transferred to DB. It’s my 안전놀이터 first move, but I feel comfortable with my friends (Kim) Jong-kyu and (Du) Kyung-min. I think my friends will help me a lot. I will use my abilities to help DB achieve good results,” he said.
Kim Young-hyun was offered a good deal by his original team, the Ulsan Hyundai Mobis. However, DB’s efforts to recruit not only the secretariat but also head coach Kim Joo-sung succeeded in convincing him.
“They actively appealed to me. I thought DB was a team where I could showcase my abilities, so I knew I wanted to go. Coach Kim Joo-sung thought highly of my defense. At the same time, he told me that he didn’t bring me in just for my defense, and that I have a good shot. I felt that I could improve in this area.” Says Kim Young-hyun.
Kim’s move to DB reunited him with his Kyung Hee University teammates Kim Jong-kyu and Doo Kyung-min. When Kim Jong-kyu, Doo Kyung-min, Kim Min-gu, and Kim Young-hyun played together, Kyung Hee University was one of the most dominant teams in the collegiate scene, defeating professional teams. At the time, Kim was a force to be reckoned with on defense and outside shooting.
“I think I had the most fun and enjoyment playing basketball at Kyung Hee University. Whenever I saw my friends in the offseason or at the gym, we would talk about playing together. I’m glad that I’m going to DB with such a good result. There are many talented players on the team, so I want to inject my energy into the team, and I think we can do well by reviving the memories of those days,” he laughed.
This season, DB, under new head coach Kim Joo-sung, added Min-seong-soo to the roster alongside Kim Young-hyun. If they can create a good synergy with their existing members, they will be able to erase the pain of missing the playoffs last season.
“I know DB is a team with great fan support,” said Kim Young-hyun. I think I’ll be able to showcase my abilities better if the fans give me a lot of support. I will do my best to help the team go in a good direction and achieve good results,” he said.