It's a failure for Kim Byung-ji, the eternal legend, to give up what he says to his juniors
Sep 16, 2025
"Giving up is a failure."
Kim Byung-ji, CEO of Gangwon FC, was thrilled. The Korea Professional Football Federation held the 2nd 'K League Hall of Fame' induction ceremony at the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul on the 16th. The K-League Hall of Fame was established in 2023 to honor the history and tradition of Korean professional football and to publicize the contributions of those who contributed to the development of the K-League. It operates in three categories: athletes, leaders, and contributors, and inductees are selected every two years.
Kim Joo-sung, Kim Byung-ji, the late Yoo Sang-cheol, and Deyan in the player category, former Suwon Samsung coach Kim Ho in the leader category, and Chung Mong-joon, honorary chairman of the Korea Football Association, in the contributor category. Choi Soon-ho, Hong Myung-bo, Shin Tae-yong, Lee Dong-guk, former coach Kim Jung-nam, and late POSCO Honorary Chairman Park Tae-joon were inducted at the first Hall of Fame in 2023.
At this year's induction ceremony, various programs were prepared to commemorate their performances and achievements by welcoming new inductees. Footballers with special ties to the inductees took the stage to introduce the contributions of the inductees and read their recommendations. A video showing the past performances of the inductees was also screened.
The inductee was awarded a trophy symbolizing the Hall of Fame's induction along with a certificate of induction recording their achievements in the K League. The trophy was embedded with a solid gold medal engraved with the symbol of the Hall of Fame, adding to the meaning of the induction.
CEO Kim Byung-ji is a legendary goalkeeper who has played in the K League for 24 years since his debut with Hyundai Tiger (currently Ulsan HD) in 1992. Kim played in a total of 708 K-League games, including the Cup, and recorded a clean sheet in as many as 229 games. Despite his goalkeeper position, CEO Kim scored three goals during his active career and was nicknamed the "goal goalkeeper," and was selected to the K-League's Best Eleven four times as a member of Ulsan (1996, 1998), Pohang (2005), and Seoul (2007). Kim Byung-ji has maintained the K-League stage for a long time based on thorough self-management and strong mental strength, and has established himself as a symbolic figure of Korean soccer both inside and outside the stadium.
Hyun Young-min, chairman of the Korea Football Association's Power Reinforcement Committee, who was a recommended person, said, `We spent the last two years of Kim Byung-ji's career together. At the age of 44, he played in the season's foreground and defended the goal. In 2015, he played 27 games and allowed only 30 runs. He was the best goalkeeper in my heart until the end. The secret was thorough self-care and attitude. It is so famous that there was no change in the weight of 78 kg. What junior players need to learn is that if they are professional players, they emphasize their characters as well as their performance. He pursued an unexpected breakthrough and built a character called a goalkeeper who scored a goal. If you are a professional, you should appeal to your fans. Kim Byung-ji, who showed everything about the professional, said, "He is perfect for the word 'legendary.'"
Representative Kim said "I spent a long time standing here, and I'm worried about whether I can deliver my thoughts for a short time. Chung Mong-joon, Chung Mong-gyu, Kwon Oh-gap, and Choi Soon-ho are here. Thank you for supporting and taking care of the K-League regardless of victory or defeat. There are memories and pains, but it is an honor to be here with you. It's an honor to dare to be with my respected senior Kim Joo-sung. Dejan and Lee Dong-guk also scored a lot of goals for me. Thank you to my family and wife for helping me focus solely on football for a long time. With all three sons growing up as players, they went to early football with their three sons three days ago. It is beautiful that 4 rich people play soccer. It's great to find health through soccer. I'm spending my 24 years as an administrator, leaving behind my fierce career, and I'll be a person who can help develop the K-League with the rest of my time. I was a pearl in the dirt. For players who give up 'Giving up is a failure, challenge, administrator, etc. There are many ways. I want to say that I can go as a successful person then. I will cheer and find such a talent. I hope you will do your best until the end."
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Kim Joo-sung, Kim Byung-ji, the late Yoo Sang-cheol, and Deyan in the player category, former Suwon Samsung coach Kim Ho in the leader category, and Chung Mong-joon, honorary chairman of the Korea Football Association, in the contributor category. Choi Soon-ho, Hong Myung-bo, Shin Tae-yong, Lee Dong-guk, former coach Kim Jung-nam, and late POSCO Honorary Chairman Park Tae-joon were inducted at the first Hall of Fame in 2023.
At this year's induction ceremony, various programs were prepared to commemorate their performances and achievements by welcoming new inductees. Footballers with special ties to the inductees took the stage to introduce the contributions of the inductees and read their recommendations. A video showing the past performances of the inductees was also screened.
The inductee was awarded a trophy symbolizing the Hall of Fame's induction along with a certificate of induction recording their achievements in the K League. The trophy was embedded with a solid gold medal engraved with the symbol of the Hall of Fame, adding to the meaning of the induction.
CEO Kim Byung-ji is a legendary goalkeeper who has played in the K League for 24 years since his debut with Hyundai Tiger (currently Ulsan HD) in 1992. Kim played in a total of 708 K-League games, including the Cup, and recorded a clean sheet in as many as 229 games. Despite his goalkeeper position, CEO Kim scored three goals during his active career and was nicknamed the "goal goalkeeper," and was selected to the K-League's Best Eleven four times as a member of Ulsan (1996, 1998), Pohang (2005), and Seoul (2007). Kim Byung-ji has maintained the K-League stage for a long time based on thorough self-management and strong mental strength, and has established himself as a symbolic figure of Korean soccer both inside and outside the stadium.
Hyun Young-min, chairman of the Korea Football Association's Power Reinforcement Committee, who was a recommended person, said, `We spent the last two years of Kim Byung-ji's career together. At the age of 44, he played in the season's foreground and defended the goal. In 2015, he played 27 games and allowed only 30 runs. He was the best goalkeeper in my heart until the end. The secret was thorough self-care and attitude. It is so famous that there was no change in the weight of 78 kg. What junior players need to learn is that if they are professional players, they emphasize their characters as well as their performance. He pursued an unexpected breakthrough and built a character called a goalkeeper who scored a goal. If you are a professional, you should appeal to your fans. Kim Byung-ji, who showed everything about the professional, said, "He is perfect for the word 'legendary.'"
Representative Kim said "I spent a long time standing here, and I'm worried about whether I can deliver my thoughts for a short time. Chung Mong-joon, Chung Mong-gyu, Kwon Oh-gap, and Choi Soon-ho are here. Thank you for supporting and taking care of the K-League regardless of victory or defeat. There are memories and pains, but it is an honor to be here with you. It's an honor to dare to be with my respected senior Kim Joo-sung. Dejan and Lee Dong-guk also scored a lot of goals for me. Thank you to my family and wife for helping me focus solely on football for a long time. With all three sons growing up as players, they went to early football with their three sons three days ago. It is beautiful that 4 rich people play soccer. It's great to find health through soccer. I'm spending my 24 years as an administrator, leaving behind my fierce career, and I'll be a person who can help develop the K-League with the rest of my time. I was a pearl in the dirt. For players who give up 'Giving up is a failure, challenge, administrator, etc. There are many ways. I want to say that I can go as a successful person then. I will cheer and find such a talent. I hope you will do your best until the end."
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
