“It wasn’t 100% at the time, but I really wanted to play.”
Daegu FC defender Hwang Jae-won (22) of the K-League 1 made the remarks in a recent telephone conversation with this newspaper, looking back on the past weekend. The date he mentioned was the 27th round of K-League 1 2024 between Daegu and Gimcheon Sangmu. At the same time, it was his 23rd birthday. After leaving the club last month due to an ankle injury, Hwang was on the unique stage of “birthday return match” in about three weeks.
Hwang Jae-won, who recalled, “I felt a lot of pressure,” showed off light movements from the beginning. In particular, he dribbled through the goalkeeper after penetration, and hit the post with an attempt at a shot. His team ended its eight-game winless streak with a 3-0 victory over Gimcheon, the top team. He completed his happy birthday, comeback match, and perfect victory.
Hwang Jae-won said, “I wanted to run. I wasn’t 100 percent, but I was very determined.” At the time, one fan opened a “Birthday Cafe” for Hwang Jae-won at a cafe in Daegu. It is usually an event for idol singers, and Hwang Jae-won was the main character. This is the part where you can feel the status of Hwang Jae-won, who is loved by Daegu fans.
Upon hearing the news of the birthday cafe, Hwang Jae-won said, “I was so honored. I really wanted to win (the game) and visit the cafe in a good atmosphere. I am receiving a lot of love from my fans.”
After a meaningful weekend, Hwang Jae-won made up his mind, saying, “This is the beginning.” Currently, Daegu is ranked 11th, which is in the relegation zone, but the players did not lose confidence. He said, “We gained a lot from winning the match against Gimcheon. We are good in the fall. All that needs to be done is to get better.”
Another goal of Hwang Jae-won 먹튀검증 is the national flag. He was selected for the A national team for the first time in his life in June, and he self-evaluated that he was “unsatisfied.” Looking back at the time, Hwang Jae-won said, “My brothers said, ‘Don’t be nervous,’ but for sure, the A national team game was under different pressure. Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain) are asking for a pass, but I felt a lot of pressure about ‘what if I cause trouble’ without realizing it.”
“I rarely showed myself in June when I was selected for the first time. If I am selected this time, I want to show more confident aggressive play,” he promised. Coach Hong Myung-bo of the Korean national soccer team will announce the list of the A team that will play in the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Korea and China on the 26th.