'Only 18 of 48 drafted, then released within a year' — V-League men’s rookie signing bonus finally abolished; foreign player system also undergoes major overhaul

*This content was translated by AI.

The professional volleyball men’s league will ultimately abolish the rookie signing bonus system. At last year’s rookie draft, only 18 of the 48th participating players were selected, recording a historic low employment rate of 37.5%. Some players who managed to join the professional ranks were released as free agents after just one season.

The Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) held its 23rd Executive Board Meeting No. 2 and Annual General Assembly on the 14th at the federation’s conference room in Sangam-dong, Mapo-gu, Seoul, and decided to abolish the men’s rookie signing bonus starting from the 2027–2028 season.

KOVO stated, “We have determined that the actual effect of strengthening team rosters is limited, as there are few resources among players signed through recent rookie drafts who can be immediately utilized as key contributors, and the proportion of players transitioning to free agency or retirement within a short period after signing has increased.”

Additionally, the growing financial burden on clubs due to signing bonuses and player salaries was also taken into account. In fact, the men’s rookie market recently faced harsh evaluations. Of the 48th total applicants for the 2025–2026 V-League men’s rookie draft held last year, only 18 players were selected. The employment rate of 37.5% was the lowest in history.

Joining the professional league did not guarantee stability either. Players such as Ma Yu-min (24, OK Savings Bank, 2nd round, 5th pick), Kang Geon-hee (23, Woori Card, 2nd round, 4th pick), and Kim Min-cheol (22, Woori Card, 3rd round, 1st pick), who were selected last year, were all released as free agents after just one season.

The support direction for rookie players has shifted. While reducing the initial costs clubs bear when selecting rookies, the federation intends to strengthen direct support for school volleyball and top-drafted players. KOVO explained, “Although the signing bonus will be abolished, the school support fund per club will increase from 100 million won to 150 million won—an increase of 50 million won. To improve conditions for rookie players, the salary for first-round drafted players will also rise from 40 million won to 60 million won.”

Significant changes are also coming to the foreign player and Asian quota systems. Starting in the 2027–2028 season, men’s teams will be allowed to hold two foreign players and one Asian quota player. Women’s teams may hold one foreign player and two Asian quota players. As a result, both men’s and women’s leagues will adopt a structure allowing each team to hold up to three foreign-national players.

Substitution rules will also change. For men’s teams, substitutions are permitted twice in total for the two foreign players and twice in total for the one Asian quota player. For women’s teams, substitutions are allowed twice in total for the one foreign player and twice in total for the two Asian quota players. The existing provision that excludes substitutions made before the V-League opening from the substitution count will remain in effect. However, the regulation limiting possible substitution timing to up to the fifth round will be applied first starting with the 2026–2027 season.

Sanctions for fraudulent contracts in the foreign player recruitment process will also be strengthened. Compensation costs such as buyouts and transfer fees, excluding salary and options, may continue to be paid at the discretion of clubs as under current rules. However, agents who propose excessive salary payments or improper payment methods to clubs, or who actually conclude fraudulent contracts, may face sanctions ranging from a minimum one-year suspension to permanent expulsion through the disciplinary committee.

Clubs that receive proposals for illicit recruitment and report them to the federation will not be sanctioned. Each club may inquire with the federation regarding compensation costs related to players from other clubs, and the federation will provide individual guidance accordingly.

KB Insurance’s temporary relocation of its home games for the 2026–2027 season also received approval from the executive board. Unable to continue using the Uijeongbu Gymnasium, KB Insurance will play its new-season home games at the indoor gymnasium of the Lee Chung-mo Culture and Sports Center in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

Bonus amounts for the men’s and women’s national volleyball teams competing in the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games will also be expanded. To encourage medal wins by Yeon Maeng-eun (CEO) teams and boost player morale, it was decided to increase bonus amounts per medal type. Specific amounts will be finalized through a future emergency executive board meeting.

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*This content was translated by AI.