Kim Yeon-koung, Japan Match Revenge Game 'Dopamine UP'… 'Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung 2' Debut Broadcast Was a Hit [Comprehensive]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Kim Yeon-koung made a glamorous return as a coach.

In the first episode of "Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung 2" (directed by Kwon Rak-hee, Choi Yoon-young, Lee Jae-woo, Oh Ye-na, Yoon Dong-uk, Jo Ye-eun, Jeong Cheol-hee), which aired at 9:10 p.m. on the 11th, it depicted Coach Kim Yeon-koung of "Bae Gu (황제)" and "Philseung Wonder Dogs" (hereinafter Wonder Dogs) embarking on a full-fledged challenge toward establishing themselves as the eighth professional team while reorganizing their squad.

On this day, Kim Yeon-koung reunited with the production crew at the location where she had held her first meeting in Season 1. The story of what happened since then was revealed, from the flood of interest from companies immediately after the end of Season 1 to how the discussions about establishing a team progressed afterward. However, due to multiple difficulties such as the prolonged war and the disbandment of "Pepper Savings Bank AI Peppers," the establishment of Wonder Dogs ultimately did not materialize. The production crew revealed that, taking the program as an opportunity, a volleyball team operations office had been newly established within the broadcasting station, and specific movements toward establishing a team continued, such as directly visiting the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) to seek advice, surprising viewers.

Kim Yeon-koung set the goal for Season 2 as "establishment or disbandment" and began her journey once again. She was determined to complete a professional-level squad and prove the value of Wonder Dogs in order to find an owner. However, gaps arose in the main lineup as Lee Na-yeon, Pyo Seung-ju, and Goo Sol returned to the actual professional stage. Even amid the crisis of losing key players, Kim Yeon-koung proceeded with team rebuilding without wavering, and conducted the Season 2 tryout alongside a significantly strengthened coaching staff including Yoon Bong-u and Lee Hyo-hee.

While skilled players released from professional teams applied in large numbers to the Season 2 tryout, members of the Season 1 Wonder Dogs also threw down the gauntlet. A total of six players—Goo Hye-in, In Kushi, Baek Chae-rim, Han Song-hee, Yoon Young-in, and Lee Jin—participated in the re-tryout to compete for their spots. Coach Kim Yeon-koung and the coaching staff carefully examined the players' skills based on detailed evaluation criteria. Kim Yeon-koung created a tense atmosphere on site with her sharp eye that did not miss any of the players' plays. In particular, In Kushi displayed his unique banter with Coach Kim Yeon-koung from the tryout itself, revealing exceptional chemistry and eliciting laughter. The exciting confrontation between existing players seeking to re-prove their skills based on the experience gained in Season 1 and new faces added to the viewing pleasure.

After fierce competition, a total of 13 players with different stories and goals were selected by Coach Kim Yeon-koung: outside hitters Baek Chae-rim, Lee Ye-eun, In Kushi, Jimin-kyung, Han Song-hee; opposite spiker Yoon Young-in; setters Kim Da-sol and Ha Hyo-rim; middle blockers Kim Bo-bin, Lee Ye-dam, and Lee Ho-bin; and liberos Chae Sun-a and Seo Yu-kyung. On the other hand, Goo Hye-in and Lee Jin, who had been with the team since Season 1, were not included in the final roster, leaving a sense of regret. Meanwhile, the Season 2 departure ceremony, attended by Coach Kim Yeon-koung and Hong Bo (Team Lead) Bu Seung-gwan among others, was held at the venue where an actual professional volleyball draft had taken place, adding significance to the event. During this process, a mock draft video in which professional team officials evaluated the Wonder Dogs players' capabilities was released, providing a twist. Coach Kim and the players did not be discouraged by the harsh evaluation but raised their competitive spirit to prove their value.

Even stronger opponents who would heat up Season 2 were also revealed. Matches against a total of seven teams are anticipated, including the renowned women's volleyball clubs "Heungkuk Life Pink Spiders" and "Hyundai Construction Hillstate," the strongest professional team in Southeast Asia, and the newly established club "SOOP Supers." The first opponent was revealed to be the volleyball team of Japan's prestigious Shujitsu High School. Shujitsu High School is the team that inflicted a comeback loss on Wonder Dogs with tenacious defense during Season 1. Kim Yeon-koung expressed her strong determination for victory, saying, "Shouldn't we show you once on Korean soil? The bitter taste of defeat." With a Korea-Japan revenge match set to settle the regrets of Season 1, anticipation builds for what kind of performance the new Kim Yeon-koung squad will showcase in the next episode.

According to ratings survey by Nielsen Korea, the first episode of MBC's "Rookie Coach Kim Yeon-koung 2" recorded a 3.0% rating in the key channel competitiveness indicator for the 2054 demographic, reflecting changes in the media consumption environment, showing an unusual popularity trend from its debut broadcast. This was a record that surpassed all variety programs aired on Sunday to rank first in the 2054 ratings, proving overwhelming buzz from the first episode and shaking up the Sunday variety scene. Additionally, the metropolitan area household rating was 5.0%, starting with a figure significantly higher than the previous season, making the strengthened popularity tangible. In particular, the scene where a world No. 1 youth player belonging to Shujitsu High School appeared and issued a declaration of war in the situation where Wonder Dogs were without Season 1 aces such as Lee Na-yeon, Pyo Seung-ju, and Moon Myeong-hwa soared to a peak per-minute rating of 6.6%, properly exploding viewers' dopamine from the start.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original