"Jangchung fans love me so much" Lee Si-mon is the only one who doesn't know; even a junior of the same zodiac sign welcomes him, and the 34th-year-old's vitamin-like charm captivates Woori Card

*This content was translated by AI.

"Jangchung fans love me much more than I expected. I'm truly grateful, but honestly, I don't quite understand why."

The increasingly fervent cheers from home fans at Jangchung Gymnasium have become a mystery for veteran outside hitter Lee Si-mon (34, Woori Card WON Volleyball Team).

Lee Si-mon, in his recent interview with StarNews at Incheon Songnim Gymnasium, said, "Before joining Woori Card, I played for three teams, but it seems I've gained the most fans here. It could be because Jangchung always draws many fans, but I feel like more people are specifically showing interest in me. People around me even say, 'You've gained a lot of fans lately,' and while I'm truly grateful, I'm honestly flustered." He expressed his bewildered feelings.

The player himself has reason to think so. Lee Si-mon was not considered a clear-cut starter. He joined Woori Card for the first time last season, appearing in 30 matches across 77 sets and scoring 69 points. With a receive efficiency of 40.49%, he is an outside hitter whose defense stands out more.

To put it plainly, Lee Si-mon is the only one who doesn't know the reason. It may not be appropriate to say this to a 34-year-old father of two, but Lee Si-mon is known as the lifeblood or vitamin of Woori Card. Whether in the bench or on the court, his habit of smiling brightly not only at his own successful attacks but also at his teammates' performances is familiar to volleyball fans.

Even in the recently concluded 2026 Korea Industrial Sports Volleyball League & Pro Volleyball Futures Championship Danyang tournament, where Woori Card's performance was disappointing, it was Lee Si-mon who lifted the team's spirits. A volleyball official present at the scene remarked, "Woori Card was struggling a lot, but when senior players like Lee Si-mon were there, the team remained relatively steady. Lee Si-mon was the one who stabilized the team's sluggish atmosphere."

In response, Lee Si-mon calmly replied, "Those moments have kept me going until now. Honestly, when I first joined the pro league as a young player, I faced the brink of being released and had many desperate moments. I never played hard to show off to anyone. I just wanted to show fighting spirit and stay in the pro league no matter what. It seems the fans liked that attitude of mine."

There is one more player of a similar type. It was libero Bu Yong-chan (37, Samsung Fire & Marine Bluefangs), who played alongside him in the past. His trademark is shouting loudly with fighting spirit in every match while sporting a full beard and a headband.

Lee Si-mon said, "Actually, my role model is (Bu) Yong-chan. We were together at OK Savings Bank, and we've stayed in close contact since then. He gives me a lot of good advice; he's truly a great senior." He added, "Every time after a match, I learn something new and feel he's cool. When Yong-chan saves a ball with a defense and does a ceremony, it gives me goosebumps. It makes me think, 'I want to connect with fans like that too,' and I express my deep respect."

Even Lee Si-mon himself is such a figure to Woori Card's juniors. In the strict senior-junior culture of sports teams, Lee Si-mon is known as a rare senior who approaches juniors first.

Lee Si-mon said, "No matter which team I'm on, I give everything I have while I'm there. It's been only one year at Woori Card, but it feels like family, and I don't want to leave. I get along really well with the players. Because I treated every moment sincerely, the players seem to treat me well too."

He continued with a smile, "(Lee) Seung-won is my best friend since we attended middle and high school together. (Han) Sung-jeong, who went to the same university, and (Oh) Jae-seong, who played together at KEPCO, are also very kind, so we get along really well when we talk. I'm also the same zodiac sign as (Han) Tae-jun, and we have fun together."

It wasn't always like this. Usually, juniors find it difficult to approach a senior who is their same zodiac sign. Lee Si-mon turned that around. He recalled, "I'm the type to joke with and approach juniors first. Last year, I suddenly became roommates with (Han) Tae-jun, and he was really uncomfortable. He was so uncomfortable with me that I had to approach him first."

He added, "Tae-jun gradually opened up. Later, he told me he was grateful that I approached him first. He said he's not the type to approach people first, and that my approach helped. He even said I'm really cute," he laughed.

Such behavior is certainly visible to fans. Not only on the court, but also on his way to and from work at Jangchung, Lee Si-mon enjoys popularity comparable to any regular starter.

Lee Si-mon explained, "The atmosphere of fans varies by team. For example, in Cheonan, Hyundai Capital fans seem to have practiced their cheering together to the point where they feel like one unit. In Uijeongbu, KB Insurance fans seem to come just to have fun, regardless of the game's performance."

He went on to say, "At Jangchung, the energy and noise during games are different. The stands are always full, and after the second set, everyone sings together. When I first came last year, I naturally assumed that was the case. I gain a lot of strength from Jangchung. Thanks to that, I naturally feel like I want to do well." He expressed his gratitude.

In the upcoming 2026-2027 season, Woori Card's domestic outside hitters must fill the void left by the team's main scorer, Ali Haghpourast (22), who has been absent for the past two years. Lee Si-mon, who has set improving scoring ability as a goal, is no exception.

Lee Si-mon emphasized, "With Ali gone, the positions of outside hitters have become very important. I will try to get into games no matter what, and when I do, I want to show my strengths. Ali was a player with much to learn from and was excellent, but I believe I also have strengths different from Ali's."

He also added, "I have always played on the court and taken on the role of shouting fighting spirit. There are days when I play well and days when I don't, but I always try not to lose my bright, positive attitude and never give up until the end. I play with the hope that fans feel even a little happy watching me. It would be even better if teammates have fun together. I believe creating a positive team atmosphere is another one of my roles," he vowed.

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*This content was translated by AI.