*This content was translated by AI.View Original
The Korean men's national volleyball team did not leave only regrets from the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games. Young setter Han Tae-jun (22, Our Card Our WON) gained confidence by facing strong opponents and also identified his own shortcomings.
Han Tae-jun met with reporters at the opening media day for the men's division of the 2026-2027 season V-League held on the 8th at Hotel Riviera Cheongdam in Seoul Gangnam-gu to look back on this year's national team activities.
Han Tae-jun, who joined Our Card as the fourth overall pick in the first round of the rookie draft for the 2022-2023 season, quickly grew into a starting setter. In the 2024-2025 season, he appeared in all 36 regular league matches, recording 1,675 successful sets (1st in the league) and an average of 11.242 sets per game (2nd), standing shoulder to shoulder with top-tier setters in the league.
He received early attention for his solid fundamentals and stable Toss ability, and wore the national team badge again this year after last year. His year with the national team was not easy. While physical burdens accumulated from consecutive international tournaments, it was also an opportunity to gain experience.
Han Tae-jun smiled and said, "I think that by playing in tournaments, you gain a lot in terms of experience. It is true that your physical condition becomes difficult, but I try to think as positively as possible." He added, "If you fall into negative thoughts, there is no end. So I approached it with the mindset of gaining experience. It was tough, but it was fun."
Korean men's volleyball experienced both hope and disappointment on the international stage this year. Following a runner-up finish at the June Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Nations Cup, they won a bronze medal at the September Asian Championships, securing a berth for the 2027 International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) Men's World Cup.
In particular, the quarterfinal match against China at the September Asian Championships was a game where Han Tae-jun's game management ability stood out. Early in the third set, Lee Sang-hyun's quick attack proved effective based on Han Tae-jun's clever Toss, and Korea defeated China with a set score of 3-1.
However, at the Asian Games, they fell short of expectations. After losing to China with a set score of 2-3 in the group stage, Korea suffered a 2-3 comeback loss to Iran in the quarterfinals. They ultimately finished 7th in the tournament, failing to win a medal for the second consecutive time following the previous Hangzhou Games.
Han Tae-jun reflected, saying, "We beat China once at the Asian Championships, and we knew well how to deal with China." He added, "But it seems China also prepared a lot after dropping out in the quarterfinals of the Asian Championships. That is why the defeat was even more regrettable."
The most painful match was the quarterfinal against Iran. After losing the first set, Korea took the second and third sets consecutively to lead with a set score of 2-1. Han Tae-jun also recorded a service ace in the second set, adding momentum to the counterattack. However, they lost the fourth and fifth sets in a row, and their dream of a medal collapsed. Han Tae-jun said, "Iran is a world-class team that also participates in the VNL (Volleyball Nations League). I think we were slightly behind them in terms of such experience."
When asked if they did not gain confidence just by winning two sets, he shook his head. He said, "From the perspective of our players, winning two sets is not a victory. In the end, you have to win, but we could not." He added with regret, "The Asian Games are a tournament that South Korea considers important, and many people pay attention to it. Fans must have been frustrated as well."
However, he did not think of the gap with Asian powerhouses as an insurmountable wall. When asked about the difference between Japan and China/Iran, Han Tae-jun revealed, "Japan is a team that plays volleyball equipped with technique and organization. As for China or Iran, I honestly felt that we had a chance to compete."
In the process, Han Tae-jun discovered new challenges as a setter. The most difficult aspect on the international stage was the excellent reading ability of opposing middle blockers. Han Tae-jun confessed, "Foreign players have good reading abilities for opposing middle blockers. Even if I showed just a small gap, the block was already up." He added, "I worried a lot and received a lot of stress."
However, he accepted such experiences as a foundation for growth. In particular, he felt impressed by Japan's organized volleyball. Han Tae-jun said, "We need to accept that and work harder to think about how we can use it against them." He continued, "Japan does not simply float the ball up when defending; they connect it to the center to utilize pipe attacks. They always play organized volleyball." He evaluated, "Overall, they do everything well and have a lot of experience. Their organization is truly outstanding."
Han Tae-jun also plans to attempt more diverse attacks with his club team, Our Card. He revealed, "As you know, I like center attacks. I want to utilize pipe attacks well at any time." He added, "For that, we need good receiving and timing as well."
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*This content was translated by AI.View Original
