Setter Hwang Taek-eui and outside hitter Lim Dong-hyuk have been named to the South Korean men’s national volleyball team, but the Armed Forces Athletic Corps has a new pairing.
The Armed Forces Athletic Corps is competing in the Korea Unemployment Volleyball Danyang 2024 tournament, which kicked off on May 5 in Danyang, North Chungcheong Province. The five teams in the men’s first division defeated Yeongcheon City Sports Association 3-0 on the sixth and Busan City Sports Association 3-0 on the seventh for two straight wins.
Hwang Taek-ui, who is scheduled to leave the military in November, was absent from the national team. Hwang, the national team’s starting setter, is scheduled to compete in the Korea Cup International Men’s Volleyball Tournament in Jecheon on Nov. 13 following the 파워볼게임 Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Challenge Cup.
Apojit Lim Dong-hyuk, born in 1999, who joined the military after the 2023-24 V-League season, has also been named to the squad led by head coach Isanaye Ramines. The “Son of Jecheon” will take the stage in his hometown, wearing the Korean flag.
Lim isn’t the only newcomer to the national team this year. Setters Kim Myung-kwan and Shin Seung-hoon, outside hitters Jung Sung-kyu, Hong Sang-hyuk, and Hong Dong-sun, middle blockers Park Chan-woong and Yang Hee-joon, and libero Jang Ji-won totaled nine players.
In addition to Kim Myung-kwan and Park Chan-woong, the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, which met with the Busan City Sports Association, included existing members Choi Eun-seok, left-side hitter Apojit Choi, outside hitters Lim Jae-young and Kim In-gyun, and middle blocker Park Ji-yoon. Liberos Kim Do-hoon and Park Ji-hoon also took turns in the lineup. The substitutes were Jung Sung-kyu, Hong Dong-sun, Hong Sang-hyuk, Shin Seung-hoon, and Yang Hee-joon.
Park Sam-yong, head coach of the Armed Forces Athletic Corps, said, “It’s only been a month since my successors moved to the unit. Lim Dong-hyuk also wanted to go to the national team, so I told him to do well and not get injured.”
“These replacements are mostly players who have played matches. They are not yet in shape, but they are still committing fewer errors. We want to give the seniors a chance,” he said. “Everyone is working hard. The seniors are working hard to get back into the team, and the juniors are working hard to get fit. If you don’t work hard, you’re only hurting yourself,” he says with a smile.
Expectations are also high. “Lim Dong-hyuk, Hong Sang-hyuk, Hong Dong-sun, Jung Sung-kyu, and the middle blockers will do their part in a little while,” Park said.
Kim Myung-kwan, who took over the captaincy on the day, also made a new start in the Armed Forces Athletic Corps. He said, “I was able to adapt quickly because I was with the juniors who I already knew. I’m also enjoying the workouts. I just need to build my body well. I’m working as hard as I can,” he said.
“I want to make up for what I lacked before I return to the professional team, and when I do, I’ll try to do better,” he said.
The Armed Forces Sports Unit has won the unemployed volleyball tournament 12 times in its history. It is second only to Hwaseong City Hall, which has won the title 14 times. Last year, it won two of the three tournaments, the Danyang and the overall championships. While Hwaseong City Hall had the last laugh at this year’s Korea Unemployed Volleyball Federation Championship, it will be interesting to see who will win the Danyang tournament.
