Heo Ung
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Heo Ung (; born August 5, 1993) is a South Korean professional
basketball Basketball is a team sport in which two teams, most commonly of five players each, opposing one another on a rectangular Basketball court, court, compete with the primary objective of #Shooting, shooting a basketball (ball), basketball (appro ...
player. He plays for
Busan KCC Egis The Busan KCC Egis () is a professional basketball club based in Busan, South Korea. The team competes in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) and has established a substantial fanbase in South Korea. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based i ...
in the
Korean Basketball League The Korean Basketball League () or simply KBL is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea which was established in 1997. The league consists of ten teams and each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular s ...
and the South Korean national team.


Early life

Heo only began focusing on basketball in middle school, relatively late compared to many of his KBL peers, as his father, retired basketball player and coach
Hur Jae Hur Jae (; born September 28, 1965) is a South Korean retired basketball coach and former player. His playing and coaching career combined spanned over three decades, beginning during the semi-professional era and coinciding with the establishm ...
, had been staunchly opposed to him and his
younger brother Younger Brother is an electronic duo formed in 2003 by Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan. Their debut album '' A Flock of Bleeps'' was released in 2003, followed by '' The Last Days of Gravity'' in 2007 and ''Vaccine'' in 2011. After making ...
becoming professional athletes. He spent a year and a half of his elementary school years in the United States when his father was sent for coaching training and worked as a coach at
Pepperdine University Pepperdine University () is a private university, private Christianity, Christian research university affiliated with the Churches of Christ, with its main campus in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Pepperdine's main campus consists ...
. During this period, he and his brother were among the few Asians at their school and played basketball to escape being targets of racism and bullying. The family returned to South Korea when their father became the new
Jeonju KCC Egis The Busan KCC Egis () is a professional basketball club based in Busan, South Korea. The team competes in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) and has established a substantial fanbase in South Korea. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based i ...
head coach and the brothers attended Yongsan Middle School and Yongsan High School, both of which are known for their basketball teams.


College career

Heo turned down his father's alma mater
Chung-Ang University Chung-Ang University (CAU; ) is a private research university in Seoul, South Korea. The university operates two campuses: main campus located in Dongjak District, Seoul, and an additional campus in Anseong, Gyeonggi Province. CAU consists of 1 ...
to play for
Yonsei University Yonsei University () is a Private university, private Christian university, Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei is one of the three most prestigious universities in the country, part of a group referred to as SK ...
. His
younger brother Younger Brother is an electronic duo formed in 2003 by Simon Posford and Benji Vaughan. Their debut album '' A Flock of Bleeps'' was released in 2003, followed by '' The Last Days of Gravity'' in 2007 and ''Vaccine'' in 2011. After making ...
would join him at Yonsei two years later. During his freshman year, Heo impressed at the Professional-Amateur Series, in which college basketball teams played a series of friendly games against KBL professional and reserve teams. He won the College Basketball Rookie of the Year award. His last year at Yonsei ended on a sour note when Yonsei lost to
rival A rivalry is the state of two people or Social group, groups engaging in a lasting competitive relationship. Rivalry is the "against each other" spirit between two competing sides. The relationship itself may also be called "a rivalry", and each ...
Korea University Korea University (KU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1905 by Yi Yong-ik, Lee Yong-Ik, a prominent official of the Korean Empire, Korea University is among South Korea's oldest List of ...
in the annual "friendship games" as well as all three major collegiate titles: being knocked out by Korea University in the
MBC Cup The MBC Cup (Korean: MBC배) is an annual competition organized by the Korea University Basketball Federation (Korean: 한국대학농구연맹) and sponsored by broadcaster Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). It is one of the oldest basketball ...
quarter-finals, finishing runner-up to them in the
U-League The U-League, officially KUSF College Sports U-League (Korean: KUSF 대학스포츠 U-리그), is operated by the Korea University Sports Federation (KUSF), the organization which oversees college sports in South Korea. The KUSF U-League operates in ...
regular season standings and losing to them in the championship finals. However, he impressed in the MBC Cup quarter-final loss to Korea University by scoring 27 points, including eight 3-pointers, and caught the attention of KBL scouts. He dropped out during his junior year after deciding to turn professional.


Professional career


DB Promy (2014–2022)


2014–2019

Heo declared for the 2014 KBL rookie draft and it was widely predicted that he would be picked by
Jeonju KCC Egis The Busan KCC Egis () is a professional basketball club based in Busan, South Korea. The team competes in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) and has established a substantial fanbase in South Korea. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based i ...
, which was then coached by his father
Hur Jae Hur Jae (; born September 28, 1965) is a South Korean retired basketball coach and former player. His playing and coaching career combined spanned over three decades, beginning during the semi-professional era and coinciding with the establishm ...
. Jeonju KCC Egis had been assigned the fourth pick but Hur Jae chose Kim Ji-hoo from
Korea University Korea University (KU, ) is a Private university, private research university in Seoul, South Korea. Established in 1905 by Yi Yong-ik, Lee Yong-Ik, a prominent official of the Korean Empire, Korea University is among South Korea's oldest List of ...
instead to prevent his son's career from being overshadowed. Heo was instead picked by
Wonju DB Promy The Wonju DB Promy is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), located in the city of Wonju. From its founding in 1996, the team has always been based in its home province of Gangwon. It has the rare distinction of b ...
at fifth. He made his debut in October against
Goyang Orions Goyang Sono Skygunners () is a professional basketball club based in Goyang, South Korea which plays in the Korean Basketball League. History Dayone Sports era (2022–2023) Rumours of Orion selling its stake in the club intensified in ear ...
, contributing 5 points, 3 assists and 2 interceptions. Initially the back-up to the backcourt pair of Park Byung-woo and
Doo Kyung-min Doo Kyung-min (born 22 September 1991) is a South Korean professional basketball player. He plays for Changwon LG Sakers in the Korean Basketball League and for the South Korean national team. Early years Doo enjoyed playing basketball as a chi ...
, Heo was gradually given more playing time due to Park's injury problems and poor form. With Park enlisting at the end of the season, Heo was expected to step in as the main shooting guard for the upcoming 2015–16 season. Despite being only in his second season as a professional, he topped the All-Star fan vote. By the end of the season, he had established himself in the team and won the Most Improved Player Award, having averaged 12.03 points and playing in all 54 league games. In May 2017, Heo enlisted for
mandatory military service Conscription, also known as the draft in the United States and Israel, is the practice in which the compulsory enlistment in a national service, mainly a military service, is enforced by law. Conscription dates back to antiquity and it contin ...
and was assigned to the after completing basic training. He was discharged in January 2019 and immediately returned to DB Promy's roster for the last few rounds of the 2018–19 season. By then his younger brother turned professional and DB Promy's match-up with his brother's team
Busan KT Sonicboom Suwon KT Sonicboom () is a professional basketball club based in Suwon, South Korea which plays in the Korean Basketball League. Their home games are played at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based in Gwangju ...
in February drew much attention as it was the first time they had played against one another in the KBL.


2019–2022

Heo was plagued by persistent back and
ankle problems Ankle problems occur frequently, having symptoms of pain or discomfort in the ankles. Mild ankle pain can often be cured by home treatments, although these may be slow to take effect. Specialized physicians are needed if the condition is severe, ...
during the 2019–20 season but averaged a career-high of 13.7 points in 14 games and ranked second for 3-point shots among domestic-born players. With the signing of free agent
Kim Jong-kyu Kim Jong-kyu (; born July 3, 1991) is a South Korean professional basketball player. He currently plays for Wonju DB Promy in the Korean Basketball League and the South Korean national team. Early life Kim was not initially interested in bas ...
, he formed an offensive triumvirate together with Kim and Doo as DB finished the season at the top of the league table; due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the playoffs were canceled and the season's results were forfeited. He underwent surgery on his ankle at the end of the season, which had been cut short due to the COVID-19 pandemic. After spending the off-season in rehabilitation, he returned in time for the 2020–21 season. Several games into the 2020–21 season, Heo suffered a knee injury. Due to injury problems ravaging the team throughout the season, the players had little time to gel and Heo occasionally had to play despite not being in peak physical condition. DB finished the season at 9th place, second from the bottom of the league table. The 2021–22 season began well for Heo as he put up 26 points and 5 rebounds against
Suwon KT Sonicboom Suwon KT Sonicboom () is a professional basketball club based in Suwon, South Korea which plays in the Korean Basketball League. Their home games are played at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based in Gwangju ...
in the season opening game. With the departure of Doo, who was traded to
Daegu KOGAS Pegasus The Daegu KOGAS Pegasus () is a professional basketball club in the Korean Basketball League (KBL). Founded in 1994, the team has been playing in the KBL since the inaugurate 1997 season. Since 2021, the club is based at Daegu Gymnasium in Daegu ...
, he was forced to fill Doo's void as the team's main
three-pointer A three-point field goal (also 3-pointer, three, or triple) is a field goal in a basketball game made from beyond the three-point line, a designated arc surrounding the basket. A successful attempt is worth three points, in contrast to the two p ...
specialist. However, in October against
Goyang Orion Orions Goyang Sono Skygunners () is a professional basketball club based in Goyang, South Korea which plays in the Korean Basketball League. History Dayone Sports era (2022–2023) Rumours of Orion selling its stake in the club intensified in ear ...
, he failed to score ten three-point shots in a row, leading commentators to humorously draw parallels with his father setting the same unwanted personal record during the 2000–01 season. In December, Heo reached two personal career benchmarks: the most points scored in a single game and reaching 3,000 points. He scored 39 points in DB's narrow loss to
Changwon LG Sakers Changwon LG Sakers are a professional basketball team located in the city of Changwon in South Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. They play in the Korean Basketball League (KBL), and their home arena is Changwon Gymnasium which has a capacity for ...
on December 1. Two weeks later, against Daegu KOGAS Pegasus, he became the 97th player in KBL history to reach 3,000 career points. He became the first domestic player since the 2011–12 season to score more than 900 points in the regular season, a rare feat for a shooting guard in a league which is still largely dependent on foreign players (mainly forwards and centers) to score. DB failed to qualify for the playoffs but he was voted into the KBL Best 5 for the first time and was the player from the lowest-ranked team to be selected.


Busan KCC Egis (2022–present)

Heo became a free agent at the end of the 2021–22 season. On May 24, it was announced that he had signed a five-year contract with
Busan KCC Egis The Busan KCC Egis () is a professional basketball club based in Busan, South Korea. The team competes in the Korean Basketball League (KBL) and has established a substantial fanbase in South Korea. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based i ...
. On May 5, 2024, Ung won the KBL championship with the Egis and was named the KBL Playoffs MVP after averaging 18.8 points over the five finals games.


National team career

Heo was selected for the youth national teams as a high school student and participated in the 2011 U-19 World Championship. He participated in the
2017 FIBA Asia Cup The 2017 FIBA Asia Cup (formerly known as the FIBA Asia Championship) was the 29th continental basketball championship in Asia. The tournament was organised by FIBA Asia. It took place from 8 to 20 August 2017, a week earlier from the initial sche ...
and the
2018 Asian Games The 2018 Asian Games ( or ''Asian Games 2018''), officially known as the 18th Asian Games (), and also known as Jakarta-Palembang 2018 or Indonesia 2018, were a Asia, continental multi-sport event that was held from 18 August to 2 September 201 ...
. Early on, during his father's tenure as the national team coach, Heo's selection was constantly a source of criticism and accusations of favouritism, which came to a head after South Korea failed to defend their gold medal at the Asian Games. His and his younger brother's selections were particularly criticized by the press and other league team coaches. Both brothers were also excluded from the squad list for the next several games after the Asian Games. He was recalled for the qualifiers for the
2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup The 2019 FIBA Basketball World Cup was the 18th tournament of the FIBA Basketball World Cup for men's national basketball teams, held from 31 August to 15 September 2019. The tournament was hosted in China and was rescheduled from 2018 to 2019, b ...
and named in the World Cup preliminary squad but did not make the final 12-man squad. In 2022, Heo was recalled to the national team for the first time in three years. Following his good form during the 2021–22 season, he was named in the squad to face the Philippines for a series of pre-
2022 FIBA Asia Cup The 2022 FIBA Asia Cup was the 30th edition of the FIBA Asia Cup, the continental basketball championship in Asia. The tournament was organised by FIBA Asia. Originally intended to be the 2021 edition, the tournament was initially scheduled to t ...
friendly games and was the first-option shooting guard. He made the final 12-man squad for the Asia Cup together with his younger brother, marking the first time since the 2018 Asian Games the brothers had been in the same squad for a major international tournament.


Personal life

Heo is the older son of retired South Korean basketball player and former national team coach
Hur Jae Hur Jae (; born September 28, 1965) is a South Korean retired basketball coach and former player. His playing and coaching career combined spanned over three decades, beginning during the semi-professional era and coinciding with the establishm ...
. His younger brother
Heo Hoon Heo Hoon (born 16 August 1995) is a South Korean professional basketball player. He plays for Suwon KT Sonicboom of the Korean Basketball League and the South Korea national team. Early life Heo enjoyed playing various sports from a young ag ...
also played for
Yonsei University Yonsei University () is a Private university, private Christian university, Christian research university located in Seoul, South Korea. Yonsei is one of the three most prestigious universities in the country, part of a group referred to as SK ...
and currently plays for
Suwon KT Sonicboom Suwon KT Sonicboom () is a professional basketball club based in Suwon, South Korea which plays in the Korean Basketball League. Their home games are played at the Suwon KT Sonicboom Arena. Founded in 1997, the team was initially based in Gwangju ...
. Heo Ung and Heo Hoon launched a jointly-run YouTube channel called ''Ko Sambuja'' (), documenting their lives as professional athletes. ''Ko'' () is the Korean word for nose, a
tongue in cheek Tongue-in-cheek is an idiom that describes a humorous or sarcastic statement expressed in a serious manner. History The phrase originally expressed contempt, but by 1842 had acquired its modern meaning. Early users of the phrase include Sir Walte ...
reference to the brothers and their father having large noses, and ''sambuja'' () means "father and son trio". In July 2021 they received the Silver Creator Award button for surpassing 100,000 subscribers. Since June 2022, Heo has been represented by
ESteem Entertainment SM Entertainment Co., Ltd. () is a South Korean multinational entertainment agency established in 1995 by Lee Soo-man. It is one of South Korea's largest entertainment companies and has been responsible for fostering and popularizing the care ...
.


Filmography


Television shows


Web series


References


External links


Career Statistics
from the
Korean Basketball League The Korean Basketball League () or simply KBL is a professional men's basketball league in South Korea which was established in 1997. The league consists of ten teams and each team plays a total of 54 games (27 home and 27 away) in the regular s ...
website * {{DEFAULTSORT:Heo, Ung 1993 births Living people People from Gangnam District South Korean men's basketball players Basketball players from Seoul Guards (basketball) Wonju DB Promy players Basketball players at the 2018 Asian Games Asian Games bronze medalists for South Korea Medalists at the 2018 Asian Games Yonsei University alumni Yangcheon Heo clan 21st-century South Korean sportsmen Asian Games bronze medalists in basketball