Kim Se-young

2.1. Birth and Growth Background

Kim Se-young was born on June 4, 1981, in Busan, South Korea, as the second of three daughters. Her physical predisposition for volleyball became apparent early on; by the first year of Namsung Girls' Middle School, she already stood at 68 in ^{(172 cm)}, a height significantly greater than her peers. This notable stature caught the attention of the Namsung Girls' Middle School volleyball team coach, who encouraged her to take up the sport, marking the beginning of her journey in volleyball.

2.2. Name Change

Originally named Kim Hyangsuk, she officially changed her name to Kim Se-young in 2003. This name change occurred during a pivotal period in her career, as she was beginning to establish herself in both the professional league and the national team.

2.3. Start of Volleyball and Youth Years

Kim Se-young began her volleyball career in middle school following the recommendation of her coach. She progressed through the junior national team system, gaining valuable experience and honing her skills. However, her high school career was marked by a period of stagnation, which prevented her from immediately joining a professional team alongside her peers. Consequently, she had to spend an additional year in high school before entering the professional league. This delay meant that, despite being the same age as Kim Sa-nee, a setter who would later become her teammate, Kim Se-young was considered Kim Sa-nee's junior in terms of professional league entry year.

3.1. Draft and Debut

Kim Se-young entered the professional volleyball scene with considerable anticipation, especially given her status as the tallest middle blocker in South Korean women's volleyball at the time of her entry into the professional league. In December 2000, she was selected as the first overall pick in the 2001 Women's Volleyball Rookie Draft by the Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation (KT&G), which later became known as Daejeon KGC Ginseng Corporation. She officially joined the KT&G Ariels, marking her debut in the V-League.

3.2. Affiliated Teams and Seasonal Activities

Kim Se-young's club career saw her play for three major V-League teams, each tenure contributing to her legacy in the sport.

She began her professional career with **KT&G Ariels**, playing for the club from 2000 to 2012. In the inaugural season of the professional V-League in 2005, she received the Attack Award, which was determined by attack success rate. Initially, Kim Se-young faced criticism for her offensive style, which was perceived as somewhat passive, lacking mobile attacks, and relying too heavily on soft attacks or pushes, despite her strong blocking abilities. However, following the 2006-2007 season, when the Free Agent (FA) system was first introduced, she chose to remain with KT&G. Her play significantly improved from the 2007-2008 season, especially after teaming up with setter Kim Sa-nee, who had transferred from Gimcheon Korea Expressway Hi-Pass. This period saw her adopt a more aggressive and decisive approach to her attacks. Her enhanced performance contributed to KT&G's remarkable turnaround from finishing last in the regular season to becoming the runner-up. This success also led to her becoming a high-earner, with an annual salary exceeding 100.00 M KRW in the subsequent contract negotiations in 2008. In the 2008-2009 season, she recorded her career-best attack success rate in the regular league.

After her initial retirement, Kim Se-young made her comeback with **Suwon Hyundai Hillstate**, playing for them from 2014 to 2018. Her return in the 2014-2015 season marked a new chapter in her career.

Following the 2017-2018 season, she again became eligible for FA status. Negotiations with her then-current team, Suwon Hyundai Hillstate, did not result in a new contract. Consequently, on May 14, she signed a one-year contract worth 150.00 M KRW with **Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders**, a team in need of a strong middle blocker. She played for the Pink Spiders from 2018 to 2021.

3.3. Retirement and Return

Kim Se-young initially retired from professional volleyball after the 2011-2012 season. During this period, she gave birth. However, her hiatus from the sport was temporary. In June 2014, she made a significant return to professional play, joining Suwon Hyundai Hillstate for the 2014-2015 season, demonstrating her enduring passion and commitment to volleyball.

4.1. Participation in Major International Tournaments

Kim Se-young's national team career began in 2001, and she has since participated in a wide array of prestigious international tournaments:

• Olympic Games**: She was a key member of the South Korean team that participated in the 2004 Athens Olympics, where the team finished in 5th place. During the Olympic qualifiers, she played a crucial role as a starting middle blocker, notably scoring 20 points in a match against strong contenders Russia, contributing significantly to South Korea's third consecutive qualification for the Olympic main tournament.
• World Championship**: She represented South Korea at the 2006 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship and the 2010 FIVB Volleyball Women's World Championship, with the team finishing 13th in both editions.
• World Cup**: Her World Cup appearances include the 2003 (9th place), 2007 (8th place), and 2011 (9th place) tournaments.
• Asian Games**: Kim Se-young was part of the South Korean team that secured a silver medal at the 2010 Asian Games in Guangzhou, China.
• World Grand Prix**: She participated in the World Grand Prix in 2003, 2009, and 2011, among other years.

4.2. National Team Captain

Beyond her contributions as a player, Kim Se-young also took on a significant leadership role within the national team. She served as the captain for the South Korean women's national volleyball team during the 2009 and 2011 editions of the FIVB Volleyball World Grand Prix. Her captaincy highlighted her experience and influence, as she was tasked with leading the team in these important international competitions.

5.1. Position and Physical Conditions

Kim Se-young primarily plays as a middle blocker, known as "center" (센터_senteo^Korean) in Korean volleyball. This position is crucial for both offensive quick attacks and, more significantly, for blocking opponents' spikes at the net. Her physical attributes are well-suited for this role: she stands at 75 in ^{(190 cm)} tall and weighs 159 lb ^{(72 kg)}. Her impressive reach is further demonstrated by her spike height of 122 in ^{(309 cm)} and block height of 118 in ^{(300 cm)}, enabling her to effectively challenge opposing attackers at the net.

5.2. Play Style and Evaluation

Early in her career, Kim Se-young was particularly noted for her strong blocking abilities, which remained a consistent strength throughout her playing days. However, she initially faced criticism regarding her offensive play. Observers noted a perceived lack of mobile attacks and a tendency to rely on less aggressive tactics, such as soft attacks and pushes, which made her offensive contributions seem somewhat passive.

This evaluation began to shift around the 2007-2008 V-League season. After re-signing with KT&G and forming a partnership with setter Kim Sa-nee, Kim Se-young's play became noticeably more aggressive and decisive. This evolution in her offensive game, combined with her already formidable blocking, led to more positive evaluations of her overall performance, making her a more well-rounded and impactful player.

5.3. Individual Awards

Throughout her career, Kim Se-young has received several individual honors recognizing her outstanding performance:

• 2000 National Junior/High School Tournament Most Valuable Player (MVP)**: This award acknowledged her exceptional talent during her youth career, signaling her potential as a future star.
• 2005 V-League Attack Award**: In the inaugural 2005 V-League season, she was recognized for her offensive prowess, with the award based on her attack success rate.
• 2005-2006 V-League Blocking Award**: This award highlighted her consistent strength in blocking, a key aspect of her play.
• 2008-2009 V-League Blocking Award**: She again received the blocking award, reaffirming her status as one of the league's top blockers.

6.1. V-League Individual Records

The following table details Kim Se-young's individual performance statistics in the V-League for various seasons:

• Note: The South Korean V-League Women's Division previously implemented a system where back attacks (attacks from the back row) were awarded 2 points. This led to a separate recording of points gained from back attacks as '2-point Back Attack' in offensive statistics. This rule was abolished in the 2008-2009 V-League season.*

6.2. Team Award History

Kim Se-young has been a part of several successful teams, contributing to numerous championships and notable finishes:

• National Team**
  • Asian Games**
    • Silver Medal (1): 2010
    • Club Teams**
      • Korea Tobacco & Ginseng Corporation / KT&G / Daejeon KGC Ginseng Corporation (2000-2012)**
        • V-League**
          • Championships (3): 2005, 2010, 2012
        • KOVO Cup**
          • Championship (1): 2008
      • Suwon Hyundai Hillstate (2014-2018)**
        • V-League**
          • Championship (1): 2016
        • KOVO Cup**
          • Championship (1): 2014
      • Incheon Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders (2018-)**
        • V-League**
          • Championship (1): 2019