Busan OK Financial Group Utman Professional Volleyball Team, Energetic Start to Its Second Season with Home Opener
Hee Chan Kim Reporter
jujui@hanmail.net | 2026-11-06 09:40:00
Breakthrough of 60,000 total spectators and an average of 3,000 spectators last season... Awarded the V-League Ceremony Achievement Award for successful relocation to Busan and promotion of professional volleyball excitement
Offering of OK baseball-style uniforms to opening game spectators, alongside various citizen participation events including a photo zone and volleyball experience zone
The City of Busan (Mayor Jeon Jae-soo) announced that the '2026-2027 Season Home Opener' of the OK Financial Group Utman Professional Volleyball Team will be held tomorrow (the 7th) at 2 PM at Gangseo Indoor Stadium. ○ This match marks the team's first home game of its second season since relocating its home base to Busan last year, facing off against Woori Card Woori WON.
Special commemorative items in the form of baseball-style uniforms will be provided to spectators visiting the stadium on this day, and various citizen-participatory events are arranged to add to the excitement of the home opener. ○ Starting from 12 PM ahead of the match, photo zones, volleyball experience zones, and food trucks will be operated inside and outside the stadium, and diverse cheering events and spectator participation programs will be held during the game as well. ○ Tickets for the home opener can be booked online via the official website of the Korea Volleyball Federation (KOVO) (kovo.co.kr), and remaining tickets on the day of the match can also be purchased on-site.
The OK Financial Group Utman Pro Volleyball Team led the box office success of professional volleyball starting from its very first season in Busan, driven by the passionate interest and support of citizens. ○ During the past 2025-2026 V-League season, it was the only team among both men's and women's divisions to surpass 60,000 total spectators and an average of 3,000 spectators, recording sell-outs for all six weekend home games. ○ Based on these achievements, the team received the Achievement Award at the '2025-2026 Season V-League Award Ceremony' held last April in recognition of its contribution to successful relocation and the revitalization of professional volleyball popularity.
Entering its second year rooted in Busan, the club is continuing various community-engagement activities such as supporting local youth volleyball talents and communicating with fans. ○ Last August, it visited local elementary schools (Geummyeong Elementary and Sujeong Elementary) to donate volleyball equipment and conduct talent donation activities, and held basic skills guidance and fan signing events for youth volleyball class members. ○ Furthermore, on October 17, it held a launching ceremony for the new season at Gangseo Indoor Stadium with about 1,000 fans in attendance, spending time communicating with citizens through an open practice match (open match) against the KEPCO Vixtorm.
This season, the team is embarking on a new challenge centered around Manager Shin Young-chul and Captain Jeon Kwang-in. ○ Together with newly joined players such as Kim Jung-ho, Noh Jae-wook, and Russell, the team plans to reorganize its strengths and aim for higher rankings than last season, propelled by the passionate cheers of home fans. ○ In addition, the city plans to continue its cooperation with the club to maintain the box-office momentum of the previous season and strive to vitalize local professional sports and expand opportunities for citizens to enjoy sports.
Mayor Jeon Jae-soo stated, "The passionate cheers of Busan citizens last season showed just how much Busan is a city that loves volleyball," adding, "We hope that this season's orange-colored passion will continue, making Busan buzz with volleyball stories next spring, and the City of Busan will also cheer with all its might alongside our citizens."
[ⓒ Global Economic Times. 무단전재-재배포 금지]
WEEKLY HOT
- 1Miracle in Transit: Preterm Baby Born in 119 Ambulance Returns Home Healthy After 50 Days
- 2Busan Set to Smash Tourism Records as Foreign Visitors Target 5-Million Milestone
- 3International St. Mary’s Hospital Takes Over Incheon Airport Terminal 1 Medical Facility
- 4South Korean Prosecutors Secure Dissolution of Fraudulent Surety Firm in 200 Billion Won Scam
- 5Empty Victories: The Grim Reality Behind K-Content Copyright Lawsuits
- 6Beijing Demands Washington Deliver on Tariff Cuts to Unlock U.S. Farm Exports