Lee Da-young Supports Men's Volleyball Team Amidst Career Developments

Lee Da-young (이다영), currently playing as the starting setter for the San Diego Mojos in the American league (PVF), attended a men's volleyball exhibition match on June 7, where she cheered for the South Korean national team against the Netherlands. Accompanied by a friend, she watched the game at the Cheonan Yu Gwan-sun Gymnasium. Her twin sister, Lee Jae-young (이재영), who previously played as a main outside hitter for the women's national team, was also present but watched the match separately.

Reflecting on her experience in the U.S. league, Lee Da-young noted, "The atmosphere here is very different from the European leagues (Greece, Romania, France). Most importantly, I had a lot of fun during the season. The audience's response was incredible, with around 18,000 fans attending a home game, which I believe was the highest attendance. The level of play and the skills of the players were impressive and exceeded my expectations."

Regarding her plans for the next season, she stated, "I plan to continue playing in the U.S. league. I am also discussing options with my agent regarding European leagues, but I was satisfied with my experience in the U.S. last season. Starting in 2026, another professional league will launch in the U.S., which means more choices for players."

When asked about a potential return to the Korean V-League, she expressed, "It's hard to give a definitive answer right now, but I honestly have a desire to play again. However, I don't think it's appropriate to say whether I want to play in the V-League or not at this moment."

As for why she and her sister watched the game separately, she explained, "I didn't know she was coming because we didn't coordinate, and I only found out when I arrived at the gym."

Lee Da-young made her professional debut after being selected as the second overall pick in the first round of the 2014-2015 Korean Volleyball Federation (KOVO) women's draft by Hyundai Engineering & Construction. After becoming a free agent following the 2019-2020 season, she transferred to Heungkuk Life Insurance, where she played alongside her sister.

However, in February 2021, Lee Da-young faced allegations of involvement in past school bullying, leading to an indefinite suspension from Heungkuk Life Insurance and the national team. After losing her place in the domestic league, she joined PAOK Thessaloniki in the Greek A1 league for the 2021-2022 season, establishing herself as a starting setter. She later played for Rapid București in Romania and Volero Le Cannet in France before signing with the San Diego Mojos last year.