Pyo Seung-ju, who made a comeback after a one-year hiatus, “Last year around this time, I spent every day crying, but I’m happy to be able to return to the court.” [Nam Jeong-hoon’s Over the Net]

“hello”

The voice on the other end of the receiver was bright. It must have been a bright voice that came from relief that the anxious time had passed and his return to the court after a year had been confirmed. Seung-ju Pyo, who qualified as a free agent after completing the 2024-2025 season but had to leave the court as a ‘FA lost child,’ is back on the court.

Seung-ju Pyo signed a contract for 200 million won (annual salary of 160 million won, option of 40 million won) with his original team, Cheong Kwan-jang, ahead of the deadline for free agency negotiations for the women’s professional volleyball team on the 21st, and immediately wore the uniform of Heungkuk Life Insurance through a ‘sign and trade’. Instead of giving up Seung-ju Pyo, Jeong Kwan-jang receives Heungkuk Life Insurance’s first round pick in the 2026-2027 season rookie draft. Heungkuk Life Insurance will exercise Jeong Kwan-jang’s second-round pick in the 2026-2027 season rookie draft.

In a phone call with Segye Ilbo, Pyo Seung-ju expressed his feelings, saying, “This time last year, I spent every day crying, but I never thought I would come back. I am just grateful to coach Hee-jin Go, Director Jeong Kwan-jang, and Heungkuk Life Insurance who brought me in.”

Just two months ago, Seungju Pyo had no thoughts of returning to the court. When I asked Pyo Seung-ju, who I met as a KBSN Sports commentator at the Suwon Gymnasium last February, if he had any thoughts of returning to the court, he answered, “Oh, no.” When the story was brought up, Pyo Seung-ju recalled that time, saying, “Even back then, people around me talked about it, but there was also a time when I was doing commentary and various other activities, and it was too hard to unravel the tangles, so I didn’t even try.”

What suddenly turned the situation around was a phone call from head coach Go Hee-jin. At the end of the season, coach Ko Hee-jin called Seung-ju Pyo and asked if he wanted to return to active duty, and Director Jeong decided to let Seung-ju Pyo go through a sign-and-trade for the sake of the team. In last season’s free agent market, Heungkuk Life Insurance, which had announced its intention to recruit Seung-Joo Pyo through a sign-and-trade, took active action, and in the end, Seung-Joo Pyo was able to return. Despite being away from the court for a year and working as a commentator, Pyo Seung-ju did not give up on volleyball, including coaching at Sehwa Girls’ High School thanks to the consideration of Heungkuk Life Insurance, which was a great help in this sign and trade.

Around the time the news of Seung-Joo Pyo’s sign and trade came up, this reporter and Seung-Joo Pyo were in contact. At the time, Seung-ju Pyo expressed his intention, saying, “Nothing has been decided yet, so I am very cautious. I hope it will be published once everything is decided.” Even when the agreement was confirmed by an amicable agreement between both parties on the afternoon of the 21st, Seung-ju Pyo could not hide his anxiety, saying, “I am anxious because it has not been announced yet.” Only when the negotiation deadline ended at 18:00 on the 21st and KOVO’s announcement was made did Seung-ju Pyo feel relieved. Seungju Pyo laughed, saying, “I think I signed a good contract under good conditions. I think I saved my pride by putting a ‘2’ in the first digit.”

Pyo Seung-joo started working out slowly when there was talk of returning, but he still feels like he’s not good enough. When asked where he is now compared to when he was at the peak of his career as a player, he said, “It’s embarrassing to even say what percentage I am now. I haven’t built a body that can be compared yet, but I want to show it by building a proper body now.”

Heungkuk Life Insurance coach Tomoko Yoshihara’s training emphasizes the basics and is famous for being harsh. Seungju Pyo expressed his firm determination, saying, “Now you will feel the taste of blood in your mouth. You will feel dizzy and taste the blood a few times in the future, but you have to hold on and endure. This is an opportunity that was difficult to find again. In fact, I missed the court so much that I will think of hardships as happiness.”

The family is also congratulating Pyo Seung-ju on being able to stand on the court again. Pyo Seung-ju said, “I thought my parents would say, ‘Why are you doing this again?’ When the last time the FA didn’t work out, they said, ‘Let’s not suffer any more and live by doing something else.’ But I guess he had some regrets inside. He loved me so much,” she said. “My husband also completely respected my choice and was happy. Heungkuk Life Insurance’s training center is near my house, so I plan to keep my body in shape while commuting to work.”

Although he returned to the court, he must compete for the starting position. Heungkuk Life Insurance is full of outside heater resources, including Yun-ju Jeong, Da-eun Kim, Min-ji Park, and Eun-ji Choi of Asia Quarter Jastis. Coach Yoshihara’s policy is to hire players with the best current form rather than name value, so Seung-Joo Pyo will have to start again from zero. He said, “It is a bit hard to say that I am confident of winning the starting competition, but I want to prepare well and become a player who can help the team in some way.” He said, “Now that I am truly approaching the end of my career as a player, and after many twists and turns, I have returned, I will try really hard for the last time.”

Copyright ⓒ Segye Ilbo. Unauthorized reproduction and redistribution prohibited.