BANGKOK, Thailand — Asian volleyball icon and newly appointed AVC Board member Kim Yeon-koung will serve as chairperson of the Asian Volleyball Confederation Athletes Commission and AVC Ambassador, bringing one of the continent’s most accomplished and influential players into an expanded leadership role focused on strengthening the voice of athletes and promoting volleyball across Asia.

The appointments were made by decision of the AVC Board of Administration, with Kim set to serve in both positions from September 1, 2026, to September 1, 2028.

Kim brings an exceptional record of achievement at the international and club levels. The Korean superstar represented her country at three consecutive Olympic Games and helped Korea reach the semifinals at the London 2012 Olympics, where she was named Most Valuable Player — becoming the first player in Korean volleyball history to receive the Olympic MVP honor.

Her success extends across some of the world’s strongest professional leagues. Kim spent more than a decade playing overseas, with stints in Japan, Türkiye and China. Among the defining achievements of her club career was leading Fenerbahçe to its first European Champions League title in 2011-12 and becoming the first Asian volleyball player to be named MVP of the competition.

Her international résumé also includes five Asian Championship medals, three Asian Games medals and three FIVB Volleyball Club World Championship medals, along with numerous individual honors accumulated throughout a career that established her as one of Asia’s most prominent volleyball figures.

That combination of elite playing experience, leadership and international stature will now take on a new dimension through her work with the AVC. As a newly appointed AVC Board member, Kim will also bring an athlete’s perspective to the Confederation’s leadership and decision-making.

As chairperson of the Athletes Commission, Kim will help champion the voices and perspectives of athletes within the Confederation, while her role as AVC Ambassador will see her represent and promote volleyball throughout the continent.

AVC President Ramon Suzara welcomed Kim’s appointment, highlighting the qualities she brings to both positions.

“Your exceptional career, leadership on and off the court, and dedication to the sport make you the ideal representative to champion the voices of our athletes and serve as an ambassador for volleyball across Asia,” Suzara said in the official appointment letter.

“We are incredibly excited to welcome you to the team and look forward to the vision and inspiration you will bring to the Athletes Commission and the AVC as a whole.”

Kim’s appointment reflects AVC’s continued commitment to placing athletes at the heart of the sport’s development and drawing on the experience of Asia’s leading volleyball figures to help shape its future.

Her two-year term as Athletes Commission chairperson and AVC Ambassador officially begins September 1.