Lee Myung-jae → Lee Dong-kyung has another chance...Hong Myung-bo-ho, K Leaguer with many overseas players, enters infinite competition
Sep 03, 2025
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The South Korean national football team will play an exhibition game against the U.S. (7th) and Mexico (10th). It is a full-fledged preparation for the 2026 North Korea-China World Cup. The Taeguk Warriors will try to catch coach Hong's heart ahead of the North Korea-China World Cup, which is about 10 months away.
Hong Myung-bo has a higher proportion of overseas players than any other coach. Not only existing players such as Son Heung-min (LA FC), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), but also young players such as Lee Tae-seok (Austria Vienna) and Kim Joo-sung (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) are taking on new challenges, and the number of overseas players has increased. Of the 26 people who were called to the national team, 17 are overseas. Except for the goalkeeper (3), 16 out of 23 players are playing in foreign countries when it comes to field players alone.
That doesn't mean that the K-League is turned away. Since taking office, Hong has constantly visited the K-League sites to check on players. In selecting players, he put that much emphasis on skills and performance. After the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Championship (East Asian Cup), which was mainly played in the K-League, I saw the possibility of showing competitiveness in the World Cup finals from several players. I think I've seen as many as five people. We have to continue to evaluate it, but I think the players will be able to make it to the World Cup finals if they continue to do well in the future."
In fact, Hong selected Lee Dong-kyung (Kim Cheon Sang-mu) and Byun Jun-su (Gwangju FC), who are showing the best performance in the K-League, for this call-up. Lee Dong-kyung is considered the best technique in the K League. He boasts hot toes as the ace of Gimcheon. Byun Jun-su is evaluated as having grown one step further through the E-1 Championship. Lee Myung-jae (Daejeon Hana Citizen) and Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Hyundai) re-elected to the national team after being recognized for their performance after returning to the K-League. Both players had been away from the national team for a while because they did not have many opportunities in overseas leagues. However, after returning to the K-League, he regained stable performance and joined the national team. Lee Myung-jae said "The coach said that you have to play in the game to be selected. I think I got a good spot because I played hard after returning."
The K-League, which is on board the Hong Myung-bo, will now enter an infinite competition with foreigners. Lee Dong-kyung's battle with midfielders such as Lee Kang-in is inevitable. The competition is expected to be fierce as the second term of the "Hong Myung-bo" is considered the best of all time. The defense, including Byun Jun-su and Lee Myung-jae, were put in front of the three-back and four-back change test. Earlier in the warm-up match, Hong has announced a defensive test aimed at the World Cup. The K-League's infinite competition for the Taegeuk mark begins.
This article was translated by Naver AI translator.
