Volleyball Legend Kim Yeon-koung's Popularity Soars in Japan on 'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung'

Volleyball icon Kim Yeon-koung, now a director, proved her enduring legendary status during her recent appearance on MBC's variety show 'Rookie Director Kim Yeon-koung'.

The episode, aired on the 19th, followed Director Kim Yeon-koung and Coach Kim Tae-young as they traveled to Japan for strategic analysis ahead of a match against Shujitsu High School.

Kim highlighted Japan's strong volleyball culture, noting, 'Japan excels in specialization. They even have blocking robots, showing how serious they are about volleyball.'

Upon arrival, Kim's towering height, well over 190cm, immediately drew attention. Japanese high school students greeted her in Korean and eagerly requested photos. Kim playfully remarked, 'I should start charging,' before expressing genuine surprise, 'How do you even know 'thank you' in Korean?' Her immense popularity in Japan, despite her seemingly casual attitude, was undeniable.

Korean netizens were impressed, commenting, 'A true legend is a legend anywhere they go,' and 'It's amazing how she's still so beloved even in Japan.' Fans are eagerly anticipating future episodes.