"A big goal? Like hyung Seo Jae-deuk..." Korea Electric Power Corporation's youngest player, Bang Kang-ho, speaks of his dream of becoming a "one-club man": "First, I'll aim to play in 20 matches this year" [On-site in Osan]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Bang Kang-ho (19), an outside hitter for KEPCO entering his second professional season, pledged to secure more playing time and deliver results.

Following the press conference held for the 2026~2027 season at the club's gymnasium in Osan, Gyeonggi Province, on the 12th, Bang Kang-ho met with StarNews to share his reflections on the off-season and his resolve for the new season.

It has been just over a year since he received the inaugural star award in the volleyball category at the "2025 Futures Star Awards" hosted by our publication, and he now appears even more mature. Bang Kang-ho shared his mindset as he enters his second year: "At that time, I was a rookie who had just arrived knowing absolutely nothing. Now, I am gradually getting a grasp of how the team operates and the various atmospheres, and I am trying to adjust accordingly."

During the off-season, he was called up as a substitute for the national team and contributed to winning the bronze medal at the Asian Championship. However, he expressed regret over his delayed return to his club. Bang Kang-ho stated, "It is true that I had a good experience with the national team, but new setter (Lee) Min-gyu hyung joined, and we were unable to build chemistry for more than a month," adding, "I feel a bit of regret about not being able to participate in team training together."

He is diligently handling the high-intensity training under the new regime of head coach Seok Jin-wook. Bang Kang-ho noted, "The intensity of training has definitely increased compared to the previous coach," and added, "We do weight training in the morning, and there are more exercises aimed at pushing our physical limits, such as aerobic intervals."

Bang Kang-ho, who appeared in 13 matches last season during his rookie year, specifically raised his goals for the new season. He stated, "I wasn't particularly anxious last year, but I think I need to increase my number of appearances compared to last year starting this season," and pledged, "For this season, I will aim to play in at least 15 matches, or even up to 20." He added, "We will mesh with the foreign players on offense, so I plan to leverage my strengths more in blocking and serving."

Tactical insights gained from directly watching matches of the Japanese national team on the international stage are also expected to serve as nourishment for his growth. Bang Kang-ho shared, "Japan always plays with a strategy of utilizing the pipe attack to consistently create four attackers," and added, "It seems they place great importance on controlling the first ball, so I paid close attention to that aspect."

His long-term goal is to become a "franchise star" who exerts a strong presence on the court. Bang Kang-ho said, "The 'influence' that my hyungs radiate when they step onto the court is immense. I hope I can learn and display such influence as well."

He further added, "My dream is to win the regular season and the championship match once before retiring. I also think it would be great to stay with KEPCO here for a long time and become a 'one-club man' like Seo Jae-deuk hyung."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original