Gwangju FC midfielder Jung Ho-yeon is a favorite of Gwangju head coach Lee Jung-hyo. So much so that he wants him as his son-in-law.
His calming presence on and off the pitch is an inspiration to his teammates. His teammate Uhm Ji Sung says that his strength is his consistency, but he also has a good understanding of tactics, instantaneous judgment, and the ability to carry the ball. It’s a style that modern coaches would love to have. That’s why he was included in the national team for the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games. He will partner with Lee Kang-in, Baek Seung-ho, and Hong Hyun-seok in the center.
When I met him in Gwangju the other day, he was as calm as you’d expect. However, there was a clear direction to his words. He cleverly articulated what he wanted to say. The same sense of purpose he had on the field came through in the interview.
You can watch the video of the interview with Jung Ho-yeon on the YouTube channel ‘Liberation Village Soccer Company’. Here, we’ve included some of his ‘tales of woe’ that we couldn’t capture in the video.
B11: Is there a chance that he could win the K League 1 Young Player of the Year award this year?
“I’m not greedy for individual awards, I just want the team to go a little higher, and I want to help them achieve their goals.”
B11: Gwangju has a lot of unique characters, but who does Jung Ho-yeon recognize?
“(Kim) Han-gil (laughs). We share a room together, and he laughs a lot by himself, and he makes weird noises, and he says, “Let’s do it together.” Last time, he said, “If you don’t do it together, I won’t do it, and I won’t pay attention to you anymore,” and then he pouts again. He’s like that only in the room. Outside, he’s making the image quiet. I don’t know how many people are like this (laughs).”
B11: Do you watch European soccer often?
“I watch it a lot, and my team shows it a lot, especially Manchester City and Arsenal and Brighton and Hove Albion. All three teams have their own characteristics – Brighton’s build-up, Manchester City’s strength in the final third, and Arsenal’s defense. My personal favorite club is FC Barcelona.”
B11: Players are going to Europe from a young age these days, and I’m sure it’s a lot to think about.
“I envy them, but I also want to be realistic about it. It seems amazing to go to a place where you’re the only person from another country, and adapt to the culture and language. I think it’s difficult if you don’t prepare beforehand, if you don’t get to know the culture. Anyway, I want to face reality with my football, I want to see what level I’m at, what I can do, make mistakes, learn and grow. I’m comfortable in Korea, I know the language, but I think if I get complacent, I’ll be lost. I want to be a learner.” 온라인바카라
B11: A quick question, how long do you think it will take for you to become as famous as Jung Ho-yeon, who starred in ‘The Squid Game’?
“That’s probably going to be difficult (laughs). …. But let’s say about 5 years?”
B11: What do you do when you’re not working?
“Staying at home.