South Korean Football Players Shining in Overseas Leagues (Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Kim Min-jae, Hwang Hee-chan)

Hello everyone! These days, more and more Korean athletes are gaining recognition for their skills and playing in overseas leagues, right? Today, we're going to learn about Korean soccer players who are active in overseas leagues. Let's find out which players there are and what kind of performances they're showing!

Son Heung-min

Son Heung-min is already a very famous player. He joined Hamburger SV in the Bundesliga at the age of 18, gaining recognition for his skills. He drew attention by playing in the first team at a young age. Soon, several clubs showed interest in Son Heung-min, and he signed a contract with Bayer 04 Leverkusen. While there were some ups and downs in Leverkusen, he showed further growth, and in 2015, he transferred to Tottenham for €30 million, the highest transfer fee ever paid for an Asian player. At Tottenham, there were seasons where he was on the bench due to injuries and slumps, but that was short-lived, and he quickly blossomed into a Tottenham legend. In the 2021/22 season, he won the Premier League **'Golden Boot'**, and it's hard to imagine how much effort it took for Son Heung-min to grow to be the player he is today, now recognized by everyone. Son Heung-min is not only talented but also known for his good character and leadership. He has been recognized for this and is now the captain of Tottenham. Isn't it a source of pride that we have such a player in our country?

Lee Kang-in

Lee Kang-in has been loved by many since childhood, appearing on the show ‘Shoot Dori’ as a soccer prodigy. They say he was exceptionally skilled at kicking a ball from a young age. He developed his skills by joining the Incheon United youth team and, in 2011, moved to Spain with his family to join the Valencia CF youth team. He has grown up at Valencia for over 10 years. At Valencia CF, at the age of 17, he became the **'youngest Korean player ever to debut in a European league'** and the *'youngest foreign player ever to debut in La Liga for Valencia'**. Several clubs recognized Lee Kang-in's potential and tried to recruit him. After Valencia CF, he played for RCD Mallorca and has been with Paris Saint-Germain FC since 2023. He is loved so much in Paris Saint-Germain that his jersey is the best-selling one. He's considered a player who is recognized both for his skills and commercially. Lee Kang-in's strengths lie in his dribbling, precise passing, and kicking. He's a player with a rare skillset in Korea, making him a player we can look forward to in the future.

Kim Min-jae

Kim Min-jae joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2017 and showcased his skills as a center-back, being selected for the K League Best 11 for two consecutive years. His first overseas club was Beijing Guoan, which caused a stir due to the high transfer fee and salary. He then went on to play for Fenerbahçe SK and eventually transferred to Napoli. In Italy, Asian defenders were uncommon, so there were initial concerns from the fans. However, he quickly showcased his exceptional defensive abilities, winning the Serie A **'Player of the Month Award'** and the *'Best Defender Award'*, and played a key role in Napoli's first Serie A title in 33 years. In 2023, he transferred to FC Bayern Munich, where he has another chance to aim for a championship. Kim Min-jae is a globally recognized defender and is an irreplaceable player, both for the Korean national team and in overseas leagues.

Hwang Hee-chan

Hwang Hee-chan also showed talent for soccer from a young age. His characteristics include aggressive dribbling and active physical play. He started in the FC Red Bull Salzburg second division in 2015, made his first-team debut, and received rave reviews for his aggressive style of play, reminiscent of a bull. However, he struggled to establish himself, including a one-year loan to Hamburger SV. In 2020, he transferred to RB Leipzig, then went on a one-year loan to Wolverhampton Wanderers in 2021 before making a permanent transfer in 2022. Fortunately, he showed his full potential at Wolverhampton, delivered good performances, and is solidifying his position. He's attracting attention from many with his great performance in the recent Asian Cup. He's a player who is growing through diligent effort, and we hope he continues to do well.

Today, we've learned about Korean soccer players who are active in overseas leagues. What did you think? I was impressed and respectful of the players who have reached their current positions through years of hard work. With increasing interest in these players, it would be great to know about their activities and cheer them on, right? Thank you for reading today, and I'll be back with another topic next time:)