The Korean Basketball League Defensive Player of the Year Award () is an annual Korean Basketball League (KBL) award given to the best defensive player during the regular season. The awardee is selected from players voted into the Defensive Best 5 () team. In addition to contributing to their team's overall defensive record, selected players must accumulate high averages in the following statistical categories: blocks, steals and defensive rebounds.
Winners ^Denotes player who is still active in the KBL Denotes team which won the Championship that seasonPlayer (X)Denotes the number of times the player has been selected for the Defensive Best 5Player(in bold text)Indicates the player who won the Defensive Player of the Year Award
1997 to 2009–10
Season Player Position Team 1997 Lee Ji-sung F Daejeon Hyundai Dynat Jang Yoon-seob F Wonju Naray Blue Bird Kim Hyun-guk F Gwangju Nasan Flamans Lee Hoon-jae F Busan Kia Enterprise Kim Byung-soo F Wonju Naray Blue Bird 1997–98 Joo Hee-jung G Wonju Naray Blue Bird Park Kyu-hyun G Gyeongnam LG Sakers Kim Young-man F Busan Kia Enterprise Kim Hyun-guk (2) F Gwangju Nasan Flamans Park Jae-heon C Gyeongnam LG Sakers 1998–99 Joo Hee-jung (2) G Suwon Samsung Thunders Stais Boseman G Incheon Daewoo Zeus Choo Seung-gyun F Daejeon Hyundai Gullivers Lee Hoon-jae (2) F Daegu Tongyang Orions Park Jae-heon C Changwon LG Sakers 1999–00 Joo Hee-jung (3) G Suwon Samsung Thunders Roderick Hannibal G Cheongju SK Knights Choo Seung-gyun (2) F Daejeon Hyundai Gullivers Yang Kyung-min F Wonju Sambo Xers Lorenzo Hall C Daejeon Hyundai Gullivers
2011–12 to 2013–14 There were no Defensive Best 5 selections from the 2011–12 season until the 2013–14 season. During that time period, only the Defensive Player of the Year Award was awarded to one player. Season Player Position Team 2011–12 Kim Joo-sung C/F Wonju Dongbu Promy 2012–13 Yang Dong-geun G Ulsan Mobis Phoebus 2013–14 Yang Hee-jong F Anyang KGC
2014–15 to 2022–23 Season Player Position Team 2014–15 Yang Dong-geun (2) G Ulsan Mobis Phoebus Shin Myung-ho (2) G Jeonju KCC Egis Yang Hee-jong (2) F Anyang KGC Kim Joo-sung (5) C/F Wonju Dongbu Promy Ricardo Ratliffe^ C/F Ulsan Mobis Phoebus 2015–16 Yang Dong-geun (3) G Ulsan Mobis Phoebus Shin Myung-ho (3) G Jeonju KCC Egis Lee Seoung-hyun^ F Goyang Orion Orions Yang Hee-jong (3) F Anyang KGC Ricardo Ratliffe C/F Seoul Samsung Thunders 2016–17 Park Chan-hee G Incheon Electroland Elephants Lee Jae-do^ G Busan KT Sonicboom Lee Seoung-hyun^ (2) F Goyang Orion Orions Yang Hee-jong (4) F Anyang KGC David Simon C Anyang KGC 2017–18 Park Chan-hee (2) G Incheon Electroland Elephants Lee Dae-sung G Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus Yang Hee-jong (5) F Anyang KGC Song Kyo-chang^ F Jeonju KCC Egis Oh Se-keun^ C Anyang KGC 2018–19 Park Chan-hee (3) G Incheon Electroland Elephants Choi Won-hyuk^ G Seoul SK Knights Yang Hee-jong (6) F Anyang KGC Yoon Ho-young^ F Wonju DB Promy Ra Gun-ah (2) C/F Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus 2019–20 Moon Seong-gon^ F Anyang KGC Lee Seoung-hyun^ (3) F Goyang Orion Orions Jang Jae-seok^ C Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus Choi Sung-won^ G Seoul SK Knights Chinanu Onuaku C Wonju DB Promy 2020–21 Moon Seong-gon^ (2) F Anyang KGC Lee Seoung-hyun^ (4) F Goyang Orion Orions Cha Ba-wee^ F Incheon Electroland Elephants Choi Sung-won^ (2) G Seoul SK Knights Jang Jae-seok^ (2) C Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus 2021–22 Moon Seong-gon^ (3) F Anyang KGC Jeong Sung-woo^ G Suwon KT Sonicboom Lee Seoung-hyun^ (5) F Goyang Orion Orions Murphy Holloway F Daegu KOGAS Pegasus Cha Ba-wee^ (2) F Daegu KOGAS Pegasus 2022–23 Moon Seong-gon^ (4) F Anyang KGC Oh Jae-hyun^ G Seoul SK Knights Kim Jin-yoo^ G Goyang Dayone Jumpers Assem Marei C Changwon LG Sakers Ha Yoon-gi^ C Suwon KT Sonicboom Kim Young-hyeon^ G Ulsan Hyundai Mobis Phoebus
2023–24 to present The Defensive Best 5 was scrapped after the 2022–23 season. Beginning with the 2023–24 season, only one player is awarded the Defensive Player of the Year. Season Player Position Team 2023–24 Oh Jae-hyun^ (2) G Seoul SK Knights 2024–25 Jeong Sung-woo^ (2) G Daegu KOGAS Pegasus 2025–26 Assem Marei^ (2) C Assem Marei
Notes
References
External links 주요기록 — 역대수상현황 / Major Records — Past Awards on the Korean Basketball League official website