Middle blocker Lee Da-hyun of NEC has become a sensation in Japan amid South Korea's fourth-place finish at the Asian Games, after the women's volleyball team fell to both Japan and Thailand in consecutive matches.
Japanese outlet The Answer reported Tuesday that Lee, who wears No. 12 and stands 185 centimeters tall, "has been capturing eyes," adding that "the archipelago is cheering for the new hero who put on a brilliant performance" in the Korea-Japan match.
It was Lee's appearance that particularly caught the attention of Japanese fans. The outlet said her "actress-like face became a topic of conversation," citing reactions on Japanese social media such as "Lee Da-hyun has the face of an actress and is truly beautiful" and "Korea's No. 12 is definitely cute."
Lee joined Japan's SV League club NEC Red Rockets on loan after last season, drawing attention from volleyball fans in Japan. The 185-centimeter middle blocker excels at blocking and quick attacks and is a key player on the South Korean national team.
Born in 2001, Lee made her professional debut in 2019 when she joined Hyundai Engineering & Construction (Hyundai E&C), inspired by her mother, Ryu Yeon-su, a former volleyball player. Her younger brother, Lee Jun-young, is also a professional volleyball player with KB Insurance.
Meanwhile, South Korea finished fourth at the tournament after losing to Japan 0-3 (20-25, 22-25, 16-25) in the semifinal on Monday, then falling to Thailand 0-3 (20-25, 19-25, 23-25) in the bronze-medal match on Tuesday.
bbo@heraldcorp.com
