National team center Kim Jong-kyu skillfully handled his part-time job at the cafe.

Wonju DB held a fan service event for 2023-2024 season ticket holders at the cafe (Pick & Roll) located behind the Wonju General Gymnasium on the 29th.

From 13:00 to 14:00, DB players Kim Jong-kyu and Min-seom-soo served drinks, signed autographs, and took photos with the fans, who were in full force.

Although it was raining hard, the DB team’s event attracted many fans to the cafe. Many of them left the cafe with happier steps, 스포츠토토 and the DB team reciprocated by staying longer than the scheduled 14:00 hours to interact with fans.

Until recently, however, DB hasn’t been able to show up to fan service events with a smile on their face. They missed the playoffs for three consecutive seasons, and in the 19-20 season, when they tied for first place with Seoul SK, they had to end their season early due to COVID-19.

Kim Jong-kyu, who joined DB in a big-money deal in the 19-20 season, felt even more responsible.

This season, Kim Jong-kyu has been a silent protector under the basket and has played a revolutionary role in helping DB win the regular season title. Despite being a big man who can definitely show his strengths from the perimeter, he sacrificed himself for the team and continued to perform consistently off the bench.

While there were MVP-caliber performances from Lee Sun Albano and Kang Sang-jae, there’s no denying that Kim Jong-gyu’s dedication also played a role in DB’s regular season victory. This allowed Jong-gyu to approach the fans with a lighter heart.

“Of course, I thought that if we held the season ticket event in such an atmosphere, everyone would be happier and more lighthearted, including the players,” he said.

Although he is a basketball player, Kim Jong-kyu has also worn an apron and served coffee for fans at the recent All-Star Game. He was even more skillful than Min Min-soo in his fan service on this day, delighting fans with his dexterity and wit.

Kim Jong Kyu said, “I think the part-time job at the cafe suits me very well. I’ve always thought it would be fun to try it, and I’m so happy that I got the chance to do it today. Most of all, I had a fun time with my fans,” he said.

In the DB squad that won the regular season title, there are many players who are fans’ favorites, including Kim Jong-kyu, Kang Sang-jae, and Lee Sun Albano. But why were Kim Jong-kyu and Min-soo Seo chosen as the two players who rolled up their sleeves to meet the fans?

“I don’t think there’s a particular reason, but I think it’s because me and Min-soo (Seo) are the most popular,” Kim Jong-kyu said.

“As you can see, it was a great feeling to see so many people come out for such a short one-hour event,” he added.

It was also a different experience to meet fans as a part-time cafe worker, aside from being a basketball player. For DB players, except for Kim Jong-gyu, taking off their jerseys and putting on aprons to interact with fans at the cafe is an unforgettable experience.

“It’s the best experience and a different feeling,” says Kim Jong-gyu. “Inside the stadium, you have to be nervous and focused, but outside, you can relax. That’s why I was able to get closer to them,” he said.

At around 13:00, when Kim Jong-kyu and Min Min-soo had just started serving, the junior players, including Park Seung-jae, visited the cafe and ordered coffee from the seniors, creating a funny scene.

“I thought they were there to help me with my work,” said Kim Jong-gyu. They were shocked that they came to get coffee (laughs). I’m going to talk about that again,” he said, shaking his head.

Recently, Kim Jong-kyu has been out of the regular season due to a knee injury and rehabilitation.

He has been improving his condition after receiving injections and is doing his best to play in his last home game.

“My knee condition has improved a lot,” Kim Jong-kyu concluded the interview with a concise update on his current situation.