Dramas from Samsung Life Insurance, Shinhan Bank, and Samsung
“I think a day like this will come too. I don’t think I’ll ever forget it.”
●Yeon Yebin’s ‘resurrection’… Leading Samsung Life Insurance to victory
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Yebin Yoon
The 2025-26 women’s professional basketball match between Yongin Samsung Life Insurance and Cheongju KB was held at Cheongju Gymnasium in North Chungcheong Province on the 19th. Yoon Ye-bin (29), who led Samsung Life Insurance to a 74-61 victory with 22 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 steals that day, smiled brightly for the first time in a while after the game.
Yoon Ye-bin’s performance that day was even more dramatic as it coincided with the team’s much-needed break from losing streak. Yoon Ye-bin, who was growing into a top player in the league, collapsed after injuring his left knee cruciate ligament while playing for the national team in 2022. Because he suffered a right knee cruciate ligament injury in the past, his career as a player was not guaranteed. There was a special emotion in Yun Ye-bin’s victory after overcoming setbacks and resurrecting.
In the world of pros, winning or losing is a matter of fate, but sometimes there is a win that is as meaningful as winning. This happens when a team that has fallen to the weakest position in the league and whose losing streak is routine wins. For Samsung Life Insurance, which fell to 5th place as of the 20th due to frequent losing streak, today’s victory was the most meaningful win of the season.
●Choi Yoon-ah, coach of Shinhan Bank, breaks away from 9 consecutive losses
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Director Choi Yoon-ah
The emotional drama of an underdog team was also created when Incheon Shinhan Bank, the lowest ranked team in women’s basketball, broke its long 9-game losing streak on the 18th. The main character of the drama is director Choi Yoon-ah (41). In the past, he played a key role in building the ‘Real Shinhan’ dynasty at Shinhan Bank, and as the head coach this season, he set a disgraceful record of 9 consecutive losses, the most in team history.
Coach Choi, who was going through a lot of emotional distress, said in a trembling voice after the victory, “I am at the center of all records (wins and consecutive losses) at Shinhan Bank,” and added, “I try to think positively, thinking, ‘I can make more in the future’ than my glorious record.”
●Samsung coach Kim Hyo-beom wins after ending 8 consecutive losses
In men’s basketball, the last-place team, Seoul Samsung, created a drama by winning against Seoul SK on the 11th and breaking away from an eight-game losing streak. It was especially special because it was a victory over a local rival.
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Director Kim Hyo-beom
Samsung coach Kim Hyo-beom (43), the first professional men’s basketball coach born in the 1980s, did not press his players during the losing streak. Instead, he would try to blame himself for his shortcomings, saying with a bright expression, “The players did a good job.” Coach Kim also had a bright expression on his face for the first time in a while at the victory after a long losing streak. He smiled brightly and said, “It’s difficult for our team to win, but if we do this, I think we can win consecutively.”
Reporter Jaemin Ryu
2026-01-21 Page B6
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