[an official announcement] WKBL 'Living Legend' Kim Jong-un Holds First 'Retirement Tour' in League History

*This content was translated by AI.

Kim Jong-un (39, Bucheon Hana Bank), the "living history" of Korean women's basketball, will leave the court. A spectacular and honorable farewell with the first "retirement tour" in WKBL (Women's Professional Basketball) history has been confirmed.

Bucheon Hana Bank's women's basketball team said on the 3rd, "Kim Jong-un, the symbol of the club and a living history of Korean women's basketball, will hold the 'retirement tour' for the first time in WKBL history at five stadiums where Bucheon Hana Bank's last away game will be held for the remaining 5th and 6th rounds of the 2025-2026 season."

According to the club, the retirement tour was designed to honor Kim Jong-un's dedication and contribution on the court for 20 years. Kim Jong-un's retirement tour was discussed at the secretary-general's meeting at the WKBL conference room in Deungchon-dong, Gangseo-gu, Seoul in January, and consensus was formed on the retirement tour. Finally, starting with the away game against Yongin Samsung Life Insurance on the 4th, the retirement tour will be held sequentially, and it will have time to say goodbye to the opposing team's squad and fans.

Kim Jong-un, who debuted as the No. 1 player in the 2006 WKBL New Player Selection Committee, is a "living legend" who has been writing the history of Korean women's basketball for 20 years since his professional debut.

On December 2, 2024, he recorded a total of 8,141 points in the match against Samsung Life Insurance in Yongin, surpassing Jeong Sun-min's (current head coach of Hana Bank) record for the most scorers in WKBL history, and he played in the match against Asan Woori Bank on December 21, 2025 to record 601 games, beating Lim Young-hee (current coach of Woori Bank). He also holds the record of being the youngest player in history, from 2000 to 8,000 points.

In addition, he played a great role in the league and national team as a rookie player in the 2006 winter season, a four-time league scoring award, a 56-time league BEST selection, a one-time MVP in the championship game, and a gold medal winner at the 2014 Incheon Asian Games.

Kim Jong-un, who is about to retire, said through the club, "I feel a heavy responsibility for being allowed this position, which even my seniors who have walked a greater path than me have not enjoyed. I carefully accepted the retirement tour because I wanted to help create a culture where the women's basketball player's time on the court was fully respected. "I don't think this is my personal honor, but I think it's a courtesy to all the players who have protected Korean women's basketball."

Kim Jong-un then said, "I sincerely thank each club and federation for generously considering and respecting the retirement of a player amid a fierce ranking battle, and I will not forget the hearts of everyone who shared Kim Jong-un's basketball life."

An official from Hana Bank's women's basketball team also said, "I would like to express my gratitude to the five clubs and the Korean Women's Basketball Federation for participating in the player's retirement tour, and Kim Jong-un is a living textbook that shows the team's mental support and junior players how to stand on the court as a professional player, not by words. I hope her last expedition will be a festival venue to celebrate and respect Kim Jong-un's last journey, regardless of victory or defeat.

Meanwhile, Kim Jong-un's retirement tour will be held sequentially at the Yongin Samsung Life Insurance Exhibition (Yongin Indoor Gymnasium) on February 4, the Busan BNK Exhibition (Busan Sajik Indoor Gymnasium) on February 7, the Asan Woori Bank Exhibition (Asan Yi Sun-shin Gymnasium) on February 14, the Cheongju KB Exhibition (Cheongju Gymnasium) on February 23, and the Incheon Shinhan Bank Exhibition (Incheon Dowon Gymnasium) on April 1.

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*This content was translated by AI.