Kim Yeon-koung’s Legacy: How the Jeju 2026 Match Will Transform Women’s Volleyball in Asia

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KBS N, an affiliate of KBS, announced on March 27 that it will host the Jeju 2026 Women’s Volleyball Top Club Super Match this August in Jeju.

The event will feature top women’s professional clubs from South Korea, China and Japan in an international friendly designed to boost the competitiveness of Asian women’s volleyball and expand cross-border exchanges. KBS N will organize the tournament, with the Jeju Special Self-Governing Province serving as sponsor.

Matches are scheduled for Aug. 1–2 at Jeju Halla Gymnasium.

The tournament carries added significance because it brings together clubs that volleyball icon Kim Yeon-koung represented during her career. With Heungkuk Life, Osaka Marvelous and Shanghai Bright—teams Kim starred for—joined by Hyundai E&C, organizers describe the event as an expansion of Kim Yeon-koung’s legacy.

The competition will be a friendly event with no prize money; any revenue will be returned to a local sports development fund. KBS N said it aims to promote the public value of sport and help stimulate the local economy beyond on-court results.

KBS N plans to pair live game coverage with a feature documentary and additional content to position Jeju as a hub for Asian exchange and to showcase an international event model that blends sports and culture.

“This tournament is more than a friendly match; it’s a starting point for Asian women’s volleyball to grow together,” a KBS N official said. “We hope this Jeju-based initiative will set a new standard for Asian exchange.”