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Korean K.League Soccer News - February 2006

John Duerden reports from Seoul

The National Team

The team is currently on the last leg of an overseas tour that has taken the 22 Korean and Japanese-based players on some conveniently warm countries while the Land of the Morning Calm stays constantly cold.

January 18 – United Arab Emirates 1-0 South Korea (Dubai)

Dick Advocaat suffered his first defeat as coach at his first port of call - his old stamping-ground of the UAE. The Dutchman completed two months of a year-long contract in the Middle-East before being tempted by South Korea and the World Cup in September.

It wasn't a happy return as despite enjoying the lion's share of possession, the Taeguk Warriors were downed by a Faisad Khalil goal midway through the first half. It was a real 'start of the season' performance from the visitors.

January 21 – Greece 1 – 1 South Korea (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

An unfamiliar four-man defence was all at sea against the European champions for most of the first period as was shown when the MVP of Euro 2004, Theodoros Zagorakis gave the European champions a tenth minute lead.

Park Chu-young headed home a free-kick in the 25th minute, a goal that was against the run of play but gave the Asian team some confidence. The second half was a good one for Korea who controlled proceedings.

January 25 – Finland 0 – 1 South Korea (Riyadh, Saudi Arabia)

The first win of 2006 came in a fine performance against a Finnish team that had just been taken over by ex-Inter, Blackburn and Switzerland coach Roy Hodgson. The Englishman watched Park Chu-young lash home a free-kick from outside the area just after half-time.

January 29 – Croatia 0 – 2 South Korea (Hong Kong)

South Korea controlled the game from start to finish against fellow World Cup qualifiers Croatia. Kim Dong-jin blasted home a 35-yard shot in the 35th minute to open the scoring. Five minutes after half-time, Ulsan's Lee Chun-soo became the first non-FC Seoul player to score on the tour, firing home from outside the box after being set-up beautifully by Lee Dong-gook.

February 1 – Denmark 3 – 1 South Korea (Hong Kong)

It all looked so good in the first half as Cho Jae-jin headed home a 14th minute corner and the 2002 World Cup semi-finalists were on top for the first half, until a minute before the break at least as Lars Jacobsen took advantage of sleepy Korean defending and fired home from outside the area.

The Korean defence was certainly less sound than before and was breached twice, too easily, in the second half. Once by Jesper Bech and then by Michael Silberbauer.

February 4 – USA 1 – 2 South Korea (Carson, California)

This unofficial game took place behind closed doors and no record of it will appear in the FIFA's history books. Kim Jin-kyu opened the scoring with a trademark free-kick in the first third of a match that was divided into three periods of thirty minutes. Chris Rolfe equalised in the second third before Jung Jo-gook sealed the win after 58 minutes.

Domestic News

Farewell Bucheon

The big news in the K-League is that Bucheon SK are no more. The club's owners, SK, have moved the team to the southern island of Jeju. Jeju United will now kick off the new season on March 12.

Formerly known as Yukong Elephants, the team moved to Bucheon, just between Incheon and Seoul, in 2001. Most of the time thereafter saw the club fighting at the bottom of the league, though the lack of investment from its financially troubled parent company had something to do with the problems on the pitch.

Performances improved in 2005 as coach Jung Hae-song started to turn things around and the team finished fourth overall and missed out on a place in the championship play-offs by a single point.

Attendances increased as the fans headed back to the stadium to witness a Bucheon win - a rare occurrence in the early part of the 21st century but not in enough numbers for the conglomerate, who moved the team to the honeymoon island in a bid to make money.

Jeju United will play at Seogwipo World Cup Stadium, the only one of the ten purpose-built arenas that wasn't in use.

The Chairman of SK, Chung Soon-ki apologized to Bucheon fans and told them that there was no choice. The Mayor of Seogwipo's offer to give disenfranchised supporters discounted travel rates in order to make the 900 kilometer round trip to see Jeju United didn't make anyone feel better.

Hello Gyeongnam FC

Happier news is the creation of a new team in the southern region. The name 'Gyeongnam' refers to the south-eastern province of South Kyeongsang - a region that includes the city of Busan, famously taciturn men and the city of Changwon where the team will play its games.

The management will be delighted if the club can repeat the success of Incheon United, formed in 2004 and the K-League runners-up in 2005. The signings made so far point to the fact that the team intends to hit the ground running.

Highly-rated young striker Kim Jin-yong has joined from Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i. The 23-year-old made his debut for the national team last summer. He will be joined in attack by Luciano, the Brazilian hitman drafted in from Busan.

Colombian Harry Castillo is another Busan old boy and it was a surprise when Pohang Steelers let the solid Santos and Moon Min-gwi leave.

The new team faces 2004 champions Suwon Samsung Bluewings on the opening day of the season on March 12.

Lee Ho-jin goes to Spain

The 22-year-old versatile defender had been looking for a move to Europe ever since graduation from university.

After impressing in the 2003 Under-20 World Championships, Lee had trials with PSV Eindhoven, Anderlecht and Nancy of France but his wish was granted by the La Liga side.

Lee becomes the second Korean to play in Spain's top flight after Lee Chun-soo's unsuccessful 18 month-spell with Real Sociedad and Numancia, one that ended last summer.

John Duerden

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