The god of volleyball has not lost his chance to him yet. Kim Jae-hwi, a 31-year-old middle blocker of the Samsung Fire Department, will make a leap forward wearing a blue uniform.안전놀이터

Kim Jae-hwi was selected by Hyundai Capital as the second overall pick in the first round in the 2015 V-League draft. He received a lot of attention from his amateur days due to his extraordinary attack sense and blocking ability that came from a height of 2 meters and 1 centimeter. He quickly became a starting player and posted 205 points, the highest since his debut in the 2018-19 season. He was also selected as a member of the national team and participated in the VNL and 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games. However, as he joined KB Insurance and Woori Card, he had no chance to stand on the ground.

In November 2022, when the 22nd and 23rd seasons were underway, I heard stories such as a bolt out of the blue. Due to a knee injury suffered in the national team, an aortic aneurysm was found at a medical examination accidentally. Recalling the time, Kim Jae-hwi, who is training in Shizuoka, Japan, recalled, "I thought I was building my body well and that I would have a good opportunity, but I found an unexpected illness. I lost 15 kilograms from the surgery to the time I returned to the team."

He underwent surgery and rehabilitation treatment, but his physical condition was not the same as before. However, he had a positive mindset. "I was grateful just for the fact that I could come back to work even though the return process was harsh," Kim said. However, the pain of being released awaited him. Kim said, "There was no place for me to stand on Woori Card. Only after the fifth round of the comeback season did I feel that my body was gradually improving. I really felt that I couldn't give up. However, due to the team situation, there was no room for me to jump in."

The door of opportunity has opened. Kim Sang-woo, the head coach of Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance, contacted me in May. "I want to be together," Kim said. Kim Jae-hwi, who heard about the future, said, "I will immediately understand." As a free agent, he wore a Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance uniform.

From the outside, Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance was a team with sufficient potential. I saw that there was a future even though there were not a few practical difficulties. Kim Jae-hwi said, "Everyone is desperate. The potential is infinite. The team heading into tomorrow develops."

The goal is clear. The best seven, and the team's victory. "I think I need to focus on my team's organization, individual skills, and receiving defensive balls in areas that I should aim for during the practice matches," Kim said. "My strength is mental. I am not easily swayed by certain situations. I try to be remembered as someone who does not give up and someone who does not shake."