"I have lived in the United States my entire life, but I am 100 percent Korean": Audrey Park's sincere heart as the No. 1 pick dreams of acquiring Korean citizenship and wearing the national team badge [On-site at Oeulsan-dong]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

"I grew up my whole life in the United States, but I am 100 percent Korean."

Audrey Park (24, Korean name: Park Hye-rin), the first foreign-nationality compatriot to be selected with the overall first pick in the history of the V-League's 21 years, revealed the special reason she chose the Korean stage. It was a meaningful challenge that went beyond simply playing in a new league; it was about finding her roots.

Audrey Park was selected with the overall first pick by IBK Industrial Bank of Korea at the 2026-2027 Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) Women's Rookie Draft held on the 28th at the Mayfield Hotel in Gangseo-gu, Seoul.

The 180-cm-tall setter Audrey Park played as a starter at prestigious UCLA University in the United States before continuing her player career with Columbus Fury in the U.S. professional volleyball Major League Volleyball (MLV). She could have challenged other overseas stages such as Europe, but the place she chose was Korea, her parents' country.

Audrey Park, met right after the draft, smiled and said, "The process of finding out if I could play in Korea was long. I am truly happy to be chosen by a team like this. It is difficult to say that I expected to be the overall first pick, but I am truly grateful and honored."

She then explained her decision to come to Korea: "Both my parents were born in Korea, and my grandparents lived in Korea until around the age of 30. Being able to play volleyball, which I love, in the country where my family was born and lived has a very special meaning for me." She emphasized, "I have grown up my whole life in the United States, but I am 100 percent Korean. I am really looking forward to learning the Korean language and culture and experiencing this wonderful league."

Her thoughts on acquiring Korean citizenship were also clear. Starting this year, KOVO has allowed foreign-nationality compatriot players to participate in the rookie draft. However, there is a condition that they must acquire Republic of Korea citizenship within six years after joining a team. Audrey Park said, "With the change in regulations, I was clearly informed about what conditions are required. Acquiring Korean citizenship is something I also want to do." She added, "To do that, I need to learn a lot of Korean. First, I will focus on one season and each day, play my best, and learn as much Korean as possible. After the season ends, I will make another plan."

When asked again whether acquiring Korean citizenship is her ultimate goal, she replied, "I can say that it is my final goal." Regarding the possibility of playing for the Korean women's national volleyball team in the future, she said, "If such an opportunity comes, it would be a truly wonderful opportunity," leaving the possibility open.

Of course, there are challenges to overcome. The setter is a position that requires constant communication with attackers. For Audrey Park, who is not yet comfortable with Korean, adaptation is needed. Audrey Park said, "There is still a lot of Korean I need to learn. Fortunately, in volleyball, there are expressions like 'high,' 'low,' and 'fast' that are understood worldwide. I will receive help from an interpreter, but I will work hard to learn Korean so my teammates can communicate with me as easily as possible. I know well how important communication is for a setter."

She cited her competitiveness and stable game management as her strengths. Audrey Park said, "I have liked competing since I was young. I hope fans feel passion and enjoyment while watching my games. Maintaining a positive attitude without being shaken even when the situation is not good is one of my strengths." She added confidently, "I like to actively utilize middle blockers and develop attacks in various ways. I also want to be helpful in areas other than setting, such as serving and front-row play."

The head coach's expectations are also high. IBK Industrial Bank of Korea Head Coach Manabe Masayoshi (63) said, "I highly evaluate her tall height of 180 cm and overseas experience. She has strengths in blocking as well. It will take time to mesh with other players, but it is fully possible to consider utilizing her as an immediate contributor." He added, "Defense needs a bit more strengthening," while expressing that "the addition of a setter with a tall height and overseas experience has very great significance for the team."

Audrey Park is also looking forward to her new life in Korea. She said she lived close to both sets of grandparents in the United States: "I ate a lot of Korean food made by my two grandmothers since I was young. In particular, I like handmade dumplings (sujeobi). I want to try various foods in Korea as well," smiling.

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original