Um Ji-sung (22, Swansea City), who became a member of the national soccer team for the first time in two years and eight months, confidently challenged to become a “new weapon” in the second-term competition.
Yang Min-hyuk, Hwang Moon-ki (Gangwon), Choi Woo-jin (Incheon), and Lee Han-beom (Mit Willan), who were selected for the national team for the first time among the 26 players named in the Hong Myung-bo’s first entry, received attention, but Um Ji-sung was also evaluated as a surprise selection.
Um Ji-sung, who has been recognized for his potential, scored a goal in a friendly match against Iceland, his A-match debut, in January 2022, but has not been called by the national team since. His A-match record has also been suspended in one game (one goal) for more than two years.
Um Ji-sung’s growth was not slow, either. He garnered five goals and three assists in the K League 1 last year, creating a sensation in Gwangju FC, but the threshold for the national flag was too high.
The national team is saturated with the second line. Major players such as “captain” Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), and Lee Jae-sung (Mines) are holding on. Bae Joon-ho (Stoke City), Um Won-sang (Ulsan), and Lee Dong-kyung (Kim Cheon) came and went to the national team.
The reason for the change in Um Ji-sung’s status, which had been lagging behind prominent players, was his entry into Europe. Um Ji-sung, who left Gwangju in July and wore the Swansea City uniform of the English Championship (second division), made a soft landing on the European stage, starting all games after the opening of the season.
In response, coach Hong Myung-bo called Um Ji-sung to the national team ahead of the first and second rounds of the third Asian qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup between North Korea and China.
“When I heard that I was selected for the national team around 3 a.m., I couldn’t sleep. To be honest, it didn’t feel real. I was wondering if I could be selected because I have many great players in the second line,” Um said. “As much as I’m excited, I think I can do better.”
The national team will play the first match of the third World Cup qualifying round against Palestine at Seoul World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on the 5th.
If a player misses even one game, the process of advancing to the World Cup finals may be difficult, so it may be possible to appoint proven players, but the variable is that most European players will join belatedly. The national team plans to postpone the training session on the 3rd to 7 p.m. so that all 26 players will train together, but there are only four or one day when they can have normal team training before the match against Palestine.
For this reason, there is a possibility that Hong Myung-bo will give chances to players who have elevated their physical condition. Among European players, Um Ji-sung and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) completed training to convene the national team on Tuesday. 스포츠토토
Um Ji-sung was confident that he would show off his soccer skills he had honed after moving to Swansea. “My senior Ki Sung-yueng (who played for Swansea in the past) advised me that Swansea is a city where I can only focus on soccer, but as he said, I am only focusing on soccer,” he said with a smile.
“I’m confident in breaking through one-on-one, crossing, and shooting in an aggressive situation,” he said. “If I get a chance to play, I’ll definitely show you.”