1. Overview
Yoo Young-joo (유영주Yu Yeong-juKorean, born January 9, 1972; lunar date November 23, 1971) is a prominent South Korean former basketball player, coach, and commentator. Renowned for her powerful play as a power forward, she made a significant impact on South Korean women's basketball, particularly during her tenure with SKC (later SK Securities) and Yongin Samsung Life Bluemings. Her career highlights include winning the Rookie of the Year award in the Basketball Festival alongside her lifelong rival and partner Jeong Eun-soon, and securing a championship title in the 1994 Basketball Festival. She also represented the South Korean national team in numerous international competitions, including the 1996 Summer Olympics, Asian Games, and Asian Championships, where she was named co-MVP in 1997. After retiring as a player in 2001, Yoo transitioned into coaching roles for various WKBL teams, including serving as the head coach for Busan BNK Sum, and has also established a career as a respected sports commentator.
2. Player Career
Yoo Young-joo's playing career spanned over a decade, marked by her distinctive powerful style, numerous achievements, and a notable rivalry that shaped her journey in South Korean women's basketball.
2.1. Early Life and Education
Yoo Young-joo was born on January 9, 1972, with her lunar birthday falling on November 23, 1971. She began her basketball journey in the fifth grade at Incheon Songnim Elementary School in Incheon. She continued to develop her skills through Inseong Girls' Middle School and Inseong Girls' High School, both known for their strong basketball programs.
2.2. Professional Debut and Playing Career
In 1990, after graduating from high school, Yoo Young-joo made her professional debut with the industrial women's basketball team SKC, signing a contract worth 170.00 M KRW, a substantial amount at the time. SKC later changed its name to SK Securities. During her time at SKC/SK Securities, she played alongside notable teammates such as Lee Jong-ae, Jung Sun-min, and Kim Ji-yoon. Yoo was widely regarded as one of the best power forwards in the history of women's basketball, praised for her exceptional strength and aggressive playing style, which made her a formidable opponent even on the Asian stage.
Following the IMF financial crisis, many women's basketball teams, including SK Securities, were disbanded. Yoo Young-joo then transferred to Yongin Samsung Life Bluemings through a draft. She continued to play for Samsung Life until her retirement in September 2001. Her decision to retire was influenced by the burden of playing for Samsung Life, which had been a fierce rival of her former team, and persistent chronic knee injuries. She was often compared to male basketball player Hyun Joo-yup for her combination of strength and intelligent play.
2.3. Major Achievements and Rivalries
Yoo Young-joo's professional career was highlighted by significant team championships and individual accolades. In her debut season in 1990, she shared the Basketball Festival Rookie of the Year award with her high school classmate and long-time rival, Jeong Eun-soon. This joint award was an unprecedented event in the history of the Basketball Festival and professional basketball in South Korea. In 1994, Yoo led SKC to a championship victory in the Basketball Festival, overcoming the strong Yongin Samsung Life Bluemings team which featured star players like Jeong Eun-soon, Wang Soo-jin, and Park Jung-eun.
Throughout her career, Jeong Eun-soon remained a constant presence in Yoo's basketball life, serving as both a rival and a companion. While Jeong Eun-soon had already gained recognition as a youth national team player and was expected to excel at the adult level upon graduating high school, Yoo Young-joo initially remained in her shadow. However, Yoo later revealed that Jeong Eun-soon was her role model. She expressed pride in how they consistently competed against each other and stood shoulder-to-shoulder in the adult league, notably sharing the Rookie of the Year award.
2.4. Retirement
Yoo Young-joo formally retired from professional basketball in September 2001. The primary reasons for her retirement included the psychological burden of playing for Yongin Samsung Life Bluemings, a team that had been a major rival to her previous club, and chronic injuries, particularly to her knees, which had accumulated throughout her demanding playing career. These factors led her to conclude her illustrious playing career and consider a transition to new roles within the sport.
3. National Team Career
Yoo Young-joo was a pivotal member of the South Korean national basketball team, contributing significantly to their success in various international tournaments.
3.1. International Tournament Participation
Yoo Young-joo represented South Korea in numerous major international competitions:
- 1996 Summer Olympics: She participated in the women's basketball tournament at the 26th Atlanta Olympics in 1996.
- Asian Games: She competed in two Asian Games, winning a gold medal at the 1994 Hiroshima Asian Games and participating in the 1998 Bangkok Asian Games.
- East Asian Games: She was part of the team that won the championship at the 1997 East Asian Games.
- FIBA World Championship for Women: She participated in two World Championships, in 1994 and 1998.
- FIBA Asia Championship for Women: She made multiple appearances in the Asian Championship, securing runner-up finishes in 1990, 1992, 1994, and 1995, and winning championships in 1997 and 1999. The 1999 tournament also served as a qualifier for the 2000 Summer Olympics.
- Pre-Olympic Tournament: She participated in the 25th Pre-Olympic Tournament in 1992.
- FIBA Asia Under-18 Championship: As a youth player, she participated in two Asian Youth Championships, finishing as runner-up in 1989 and winning the championship in 1990.
3.2. Individual Awards
During her national team tenure, Yoo Young-joo received individual recognition for her outstanding performance. Notably, she was named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the 1997 Asian Championship, an honor she shared with Jeong Eun-soon.
4. Coaching and Commentary Career
After concluding her playing career, Yoo Young-joo transitioned into coaching and commentary roles, continuing her involvement in the sport.
4.1. Coaching Career
In 2002, Yoo Young-joo was appointed as a coach for KB Kookmin Bank. In the same year, she made history by becoming the first former player to serve as an acting head coach in the WKBL. She held this position until her resignation in 2004. In 2013, she returned to coaching as an assistant coach for Guri KDB Life Winnus, where she remained until the 2014-15 season. In 2019, she was appointed as the inaugural head coach for the newly launched Busan BNK Sum women's basketball team for the 2019-20 season. However, due to poor team performance, she resigned after the 2020-21 season, passing the head coach position to Park Jung-eun.
4.2. Commentary Career
Yoo Young-joo also embarked on a career as a sports commentator. From 2006, she served as a commentator for WKBL-TV, the internet broadcasting service of the Korean Women's Basketball League. From the 2009-10 season until 2013, she worked as a commentator for SBS ESPN, providing analysis and insights on basketball games. After her coaching stint with KDB Life Winnus, she continued her work as a commentator.
5. Coaching Record
The following table details Yoo Young-joo's coaching record in the WKBL.
| Team | Year | G | W | L | W-L% | Final | PG | PW | PL | PW-L% | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cheonan KB Savers | 2002 Summer | 11 | 5 | 6 | 45.5% | 5th | - | - | - | - | Failed to qualify for playoffs |
| Busan BNK Sum | 2019 | 27 | 10 | 17 | 37.0% | 5th | - | - | - | - | Playoffs not held |
| Busan BNK Sum | 2020 | 30 | 5 | 25 | 16.7% | 6th | - | - | - | - | Failed to qualify for playoffs |
| Career | 68 | 20 | 48 | 29.4% | - | - | - | - | |||
6. Personal Life
Yoo Young-joo married in 1999. In 2005, she gave birth to twin sons, both of whom have followed in her footsteps and are active basketball players. Her older sister, Yoo Young-soon, works as a support team manager for the Changwon LG Sakers professional basketball team.
7. Assessment
Yoo Young-joo has left an indelible mark on South Korean women's basketball through her multifaceted career as a player, coach, and commentator. As a player, her powerful and aggressive style as a power forward redefined the position, earning her recognition as one of the best in her era. Her intense rivalry and partnership with Jeong Eun-soon captivated fans and pushed both players to excel, contributing to some of the most memorable moments in the Basketball Festival. Her leadership and skill were instrumental in securing a championship for SKC.
Beyond her playing days, Yoo's transition into coaching demonstrated her continued dedication to the sport, notably becoming the first former player to serve as an acting head coach in the WKBL. While her coaching record had its challenges, her willingness to take on leadership roles, including leading a newly formed team like Busan BNK Sum, showcased her commitment to developing the sport. Her work as a commentator has allowed her to share her deep understanding and insights of basketball with a wider audience, further enriching the sport's presence in media. Overall, Yoo Young-joo's career exemplifies a significant contribution to the growth and popularization of women's basketball in South Korea.