IBK Industrial Bank Secures First Pick in V-League Draft

IBK Industrial Bank secured the first overall pick in the 2026-2027 KOVO women's rookie draft, selecting Korean-American setter Audrey Park. The event, held on October 28, 2026, at the Mayfield Hotel in Seoul, marked a historic moment for the V-League as it was the first time a foreign-national player participated in and was selected during the rookie draft.

Why it is trending now

The draft is generating significant interest because of the introduction of foreign-national players of Korean descent to the professional league. Under new regulations, players with at least one parent who held South Korean nationality are now eligible for the draft, provided they commit to obtaining South Korean citizenship within six years of joining the league.

Key facts

• Audrey Park, a 24-year-old setter who previously played for the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) and the Columbus Fury, was the first-ever foreign-national draft pick, according to Yonhap News.
• IBK Industrial Bank held a 20% probability of obtaining the first pick and successfully secured the top selection through the lottery system, as reported by Yonhap News.
• The second overall pick was Kim Mi-ju from Jungang Girls' High School, drafted by SOOP, while Jeong Ga-young from Ilshin Girls' Commercial High School was selected third by Hyundai E&C, according to Yonhap News.
• Each team is permitted to select one foreign-national player per season and may hold a maximum of two such players on their roster.

Why this is trending in South Korea

The draft results are a major topic in South Korea as the V-League expands its talent pool to include Korean-descent players from abroad. Fans are particularly focused on how these new additions will impact team performance, especially for clubs like IBK Industrial Bank that are looking to strengthen their setter positions.

Background and context

The decision to open the draft to foreign-national players was finalized in December 2025 by the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) board. The draft order was determined using a weighted lottery system involving 100 balls distributed among teams based on their previous season's performance, with teams finishing lower in the standings receiving higher probabilities for the top pick.

What happens next

Selected players will now begin the process of integrating into their respective professional teams for the upcoming season. Foreign-national draftees must navigate the specific requirement of acquiring South Korean citizenship within the mandated six-year window to maintain their eligibility in the V-League.