"New, Byeon, Park" is all-starred and united after 5 years! "I've been waiting for this day." Three of my classmates are looking forward to it. [On-site interview in Busan]

*This content was translated by AI.

"New Lee Byun-bak," a trio of draft colleagues who have been close since school, made their first All-Star appearance together. It looked as if he had gone back to his youth team days.

Lee Hae-ran (23, Samsung Life Insurance), Park So-hee (23, Hana Bank), and Byun So-jung (23, BNK) will participate side by side in the BNK Financial 2025-2026 Women's Professional Basketball All-Star Game at Sajik Indoor Gymnasium in Busan on the 4th. Park So-hee and Byun So-jung play for Team Ponyble and Lee Hae-ran for Team Uniform.

The three players are in the same period as the 2021-2022 draft. Lee Hae-ran, a former Supia Girls' High School student, was nominated first overall, while Park So-hee and Byun So-jung, who are classmates at Bundang Management High School, were nominated second and third, respectively. Lee Hae-ran won the Rookie of the Year award in the 2021-22 season and Park So-hee won the 2022-23 season, while Byun So-jung won the championship ring without them last year, the first season of the BNK transfer.

Lee Hae-ran, Park So-hee, and Byun So-jung are tied up as "Lee Byun-bak" after their last names. This is derived from the nicknames of Lee Mi-sun (current Samsung Life Insurance coach), Byun Yeon-ha (current BNK coach), and Park Jung-eun (current BNK coach). Although it is still not enough to keep up with the aid career, they continue to grow every year. In particular, he has improved one step further this season.

Star News has heard the story of the three colleagues who came together and played on the same court for the first time in a long time.

(The three players continued their conversation for a while in performance pre-practice attire for the All-Star Game.)

Lee Hae-ran: We talk a lot. You can start now.

Q: The 1st to 3rd candidates in the draft were finally selected for the first time in the All-Star game, how do you feel.

Lee Hae-ran: Park So-hee likes things like this.

Park So-hee: To set an example first as an older sister (laughs), I'm the first All-Star, and Sojung is the first All-Star. It's so nice to play games with my close friends.

Byun So-jeong: Are you sure? My best friend?

Park So-hee: Please leave that friend out (laughs). Since we're all close, I think we'll be able to show a lot of fun chemistry at the stadium, so I'm looking forward to it.

Lee Hae-ran: Actually, I think I've been waiting for this day. I'm looking forward to having such close friends, so I think it'll be a fun all-star.

Byun So-jeong: I'm not good at speaking because I'm a bit shy, but I'm a little excited to be able to adapt faster with these comfortable friends.

Q: I heard it's the first time the three players have played together since the 2021 U-19 national team.

Byun So-jung: It's been a while since the three of us had an interview, so it's funny, but I don't feel new or anything, but I think it's just funny.

Q: Lee Hae-ran is an All-Star veteran (3 appearances).

Lee Hae-ran: Oh man... (Looking at the other two players) I'll teach you. I think having fun teaches me. Did you see my cheerleading skills.

Park So-hee: It was really amazing.

Byun So-jeong: No, Jinan did more.

Lee Hae-ran: (Jinan) is one-up, but it's me underneath.

Park So-hee: The two of us are still shy (laughs).

Lee Hae-ran: No, it's a fake. So I'm going to show you soon. I just need a little time.

Q: I heard that Park So-hee was more happy than herself after Byun So-jung was elected.

Park So-hee: That's right. When I looked at the rankings, they kept coming to our team (Ponible) and then going over there (Unible) and changing. So I said, "No, I have to be on the same team as Byun Sojung." Because I'm the first All-Star, I thought it would be comfortable to have a friend on the same team.

Byun So-jung: So-hee keeps saying, 'I can't send it to Hae-ran. He said, "You have to team up with me," so I said, "No, I'm going to Haeran."

Lee Hae-ran: The two of us (Lee Hae-ran and Park So-hee) were fixed, so we picked Sojung.

Q: More than four years have passed since the draft. I think it'll feel different to be selected as an All-Star together.

Byun So-jeong: I'm old. Hey, we're already 24 years old.

Lee Hae-ran: But I think we came here because we worked hard for four years. I said "Let's get together" a lot, and I'm really happy and I think it's going to be fun to get together this time.

Park So-hee: Since we're on a different team, it's not easy for the three of us to meet. It's not easy to meet me because we have our own schedules even on vacation, but I think it's so good that the three of us get together in a game that can be enjoyed through an All-Star.

Byun So-jeong: It's been a long time since the three of us played on the court together after the draft. There must have been a lot of work and a lot of hard work in each team, but I'm thankful that we were able to overcome it well and be together in one place.

Q: When the three of you come together, who is the first player to play.

Lee Hae-ran, Byun So-jung: (At the same time, looking at Park So-hee) Of course, it's him (Park So-hee).

Park So-hee: Why me?

Lee Hae-ran: He starts first, so we're following him.

So-jung Byun: So-hee always comes first. I'm the leader of action.

Park So-hee: Because you have leadership (laughs). I'm trying to lead them on a good path and follow them.

Byun So-jeong: It's not like leadership. I'm not leading, but I go out alone and do it alone, and I fail alone.

Lee Hae-ran: It's a troublemaker, the people we deal with.

Q: There are several colleagues born in 2003 in the league. It is especially common in BNK (Byeon So-jung, Choi Min-ju, Shim Soo-hyun, Park Ji-soo) and Samsung Life Insurance (Lee Hae-ran, Lim Gyu-ri, and Jo Bo-ion).

Park So-hee: I envy you. (Hana Bank currently has no motive for Park So-hee)

Byun So-jeong: We depend on each other. It's fun.

Lee Hae-ran: I think I rely on him a lot.

Q: What did you prepare for the All-Star Game.

Lee Hae-ran: I'm trying to have fun. It's not just us, but the fans are also watching, so I'm trying to sacrifice myself rather than being boring.

Park So-hee: I only prepared one thing. It's... (Whispering to Lee Hae-ran)

Lee Hae-ran: Hey! (I'm telling this to So-jeong)

Byun So-jeong: It's a face (laughs).

Park So-hee: I'm just kidding, please tell him I'm really sorry.

Lee Hae-ran, Byun So-jeong: This is the title of the article. "Park Sohee's first all-star preparation is her face". What kind of hop is it.

Park So-hee: (Let's say 'get past the sisters') You can't say that dangerous thing.

Byun So-jeong: I'll take all the funny situations on the camera. I'll bring the camera to BNK's official YouTube channel. Since it's going to be held in Busan, shouldn't I work hard on filming? All three of us have witty remarks. When I do it alone, it doesn't come out like this.

Lee Hae-ran, Park So-hee: Me too.

Q: What's your resolution for the second half of the year.

Lee Hae-ran, Park So-hee, Byun So-jung: Don't get hurt and let's finish well and cheer up!

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.