[On-site Interview] "I couldn't say it on the podium... I want to become a second Baek Ji-eun." Kim Seong-eon ends four years at university and challenges the pro league with KB.

*This content was translated by AI.

"Actually, I wanted to say that I want to become a second Coach Baek Ji-eun."

Four years ago, she did not knock on the door of professional basketball. She chose to learn more at university, even if it meant taking a slightly longer path. That choice gave Kim Seong-eon new weapons and ultimately led to her entry into the professional stage.

Kim Seong-eon, who graduated from Dankook University, was selected second overall in the second round by Cheongju KB Stars at the 2026-2027 Women's Professional Basketball League (WKBL) rookie draft held on the 19th at Cheongju Gymnasium.

This was Kim Seong-eon's first-ever rookie draft. Instead of challenging the pro league immediately after high school graduation, she chose to attend university.

In an interview with StarNews shortly after the draft, Kim Seong-eon recalled, "At that time, my high school coach suggested that I go to university to learn more and then challenge the professional league." She added, "I also had a strong desire to learn more at university."

Ultimately, it was a good choice. Kim Seong-eon, who grew over four years, confidently received an opportunity in the professional league.

Kim Wan-soo, head coach of KB Stars, gave high marks to Kim Seong-eon's experiences gained during her four years at university. Coach Kim said, "Coach Jung Mi-ran worked hard on team analysis and has been accumulating data for a long time." He added, "We thought that Won Yi-ana and Kim Seong-eon were the best among our picks," expressing his expectations.

He continued, "There were many good players even among high school students, and some had high potential for growth," but explained, "I could feel the difference between playing basketball for four more years or not."

For Kim Seong-eon, her four years at university were not simply a process of passing time. She herself said, "I really grew a lot after coming to university," and many aspects of her as a player changed significantly.

At the center of this was Baek Ji-eun, head coach of Dankook University.

Coach Baek also did not have an easy path to success in the professional league. She joined Guri Gamho Life as a rookie but was released after three seasons in 2010. However, she did not give up on basketball. She enrolled at Yongin University and continued playing, returning to the professional stage when she was selected by Hanwha Life in the 2014 WKBL rookie draft three years later.

She then played a total of 11 seasons in the WKBL. Although her height of 177cm was not large for a big man, she did not shy away from physical battles and fiercely competed against foreign players at the basket. Rather than flashy play, she survived in the professional league for a long time with selfless play that involved throwing herself into the game and taking one more step.

For Kim Seong-eon, a center, she was a mentor from whom she could learn the most up close.

Kim Seong-eon said, "Since the coach also played as a center during her playing days, I learned a lot about center play after coming to university." She added, "That's why I think I really grew a lot after coming to university."

There were also significant changes in her playing style. A representative example is her outside shooting. Kim Seong-eon explained, "Until I came to college, I didn't shoot three-pointers. In fact, even last year, I wasn't someone who shot many three-pointers." She continued, "The coach said, 'Since you have a good touch on shots, you should learn to shoot three-pointers now.' So, I started learning three-point shooting seriously from the winter training this year."

Her perspective on physical battles also changed completely. She said, "Until high school, I preferred shooting from outside and didn't like physical battles much. But after meeting the coach at university, I learned a lot about the fun of physical battles. Now, I even enjoy physical battles," she laughed.

Equipped with outside shooting and enhanced competitiveness at the basket, her goals naturally expanded. She now dreams of becoming a player who can handle both the 4th and 5 positions.

Interestingly, Kim Seong-eon tried to mention Coach Baek's name directly on the podium on draft day.

Kim Seong-eon revealed, "When I was preparing my remarks, I intended to say that I want to become a second Coach Baek Ji-eun."

However, before the draft, university players discussed things together in the locker room, and her plan changed. Ultimately, shortly after being selected, Kim Seong-eon declared on the podium, "I will turn question marks into exclamation marks."

There was a sincere message she couldn't express on the podium.

Kim Seong-eon stated, "I want to become a player who plays in the professional league for a long time like Coach Baek Ji-eun."

Coach Baek was happier than anyone else about her student's entry into the pro league. Kim Seong-eon said, "The coach gave me many congratulatory words and also told me a lot about how to behave in the professional league. She said, 'Let's stop celebrating today and start working hard again.'"

The new stage for learning is KB. It is certainly not an easy environment. In front of Kim Seong-eon, a center resource, are already established players such as Park Ji-su, who represents Korean women's basketball as a big man, and Song Yun-ha.

However, Kim Seong-eon viewed her relationship with them not as immediate "competition" but as "learning."

She said, "Since Ji-su unnie and Song Yun-ha have already secured their positions well, I think more about wanting to learn the parts where I am lacking rather than thinking of competing from the start."

She continued, "Even if I don't play as a 5 in the professional league but instead play as a 4, I want to learn that part too. My goal has always been to become a player who can handle both the 4th and 5 positions. I want to learn more and contribute to the team."

Her strength is shooting. At the same time, she knows exactly what she needs to develop further to survive in the professional league.

Kim Seong-eon said, "Coach Baek Ji-eun always told me, 'Everyone knows you have good shooting skills. If you can also handle physical battles inside, you can become an even better player.' I need to keep improving and developing that part."

The presence of "Dankook University senior" Lee Myeong-gwan (Woori Bank) also served as good motivation. He said, "Ji Do (Prof.) always told me to learn a lot from unnie Myeong-gwan." He added, "Unnie is doing so well in the professional league, so I watched her and worked hard too. I wanted to become a player just as good as her."

Her international experience gained at university also helped her growth. Kim Seong-eon experienced the international stage as part of the university national team through events such as the Lee Sang-baek Cup Korea-Japan University Basketball Tournament.

Kim Seong-eon recalled, "Until high school, I didn't have many opportunities to play against foreign players." She added, "After participating in the Lee Sang-baek Cup at university, I realized there were many differences between Korean and foreign players. I learned how to build my body and what kind of efforts I needed to make more."

She did not set grand goals for her first professional season. Creating one opportunity at a time comes first.

Kim Seong-eon said, "There are too many strong players besides me." She added, "Rather than the rookie award, if I get to play in a game, I want to focus only on that one game. I think it's more important to increase my playing time one game at a time."

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*This content was translated by AI.