"Return of the last-year vacation" Kimcheon Yoo Kang-hyun's earnestness, "I want to wear the first national flag in my life at the East Asian Cup."

"Return of the last-year vacation" Kimcheon Yoo Kang-hyun's earnestness, "I want to wear the first national flag in my life at the East Asian Cup."

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Kimcheon Sangmu Yoo Kang-hyun's goal this season, who returned his vacation until his last year, is the "first Taegeuk mark of his life."

Until just a few years ago, Yoo Kang-hyun was tagged with the modifier "unknown striker." He made his professional debut in a Pohang Steelers uniform in 2015, but failed to leave any significant mark, and continued his challenge on the unfamiliar Czech stage except for a year when he stayed at Chuncheon Citizens' Football Team through Daegu FC.

He returned to Korea in the summer of 2021 by choosing to transfer to Gyeongnam FC, but his adaptation period was not smooth. He played only five games in a half-season, and he took a tryout test at Chungnam Asan FC as a trainee the following winter. This was nothing to Yoo Kang-hyun, who does not shy away from challenges for situations or opportunities that would hurt his pride.

Yoo Kang-hyun was honored as the top scorer in the K League 2 with 19 goals and two assists in 40 games in the 2022 season, and made a step-up as Daejeon Hana Citizen in recognition of his performance in the winter of 2023. The first season record was a bit disappointing with 26 games, one goal and two assists, but this was only a preheating.

Yoo Kang-hyun, who joined Gimcheon last year to fulfill his defense obligations, has been reborn as a "complete striker" who has nothing missing, including linkage and forward pressure. Yoo Kang-hyun, who made a great contribution to breaking the highest ranking in Sangmu history (3rd in the K League 1) with 6 goals and 1 assist in 27 games last season, is helping Gimcheon make strides this season with 4 goals and 2 assists in 13 games.

The Dong-A Ilbo met Yoo ahead of a home game (0-1 loss) between FC Seoul and Hana Bank's K League 1 2025 16th round at Gimcheon Sports Complex on Sunday. "Time is ticking now that I am discharged from the military service. I want to play as much as possible as I can because I still have a month to go," said Yoo Kang-hyun, a "late-year sergeant" who will be discharged from the military on March 30.

Yoo Kang-hyun's farewell match, which he returned to play even one more game, will be held against Jeonbuk Hyundai on March 27. "I didn't want to take a long hiatus because I have more games in July. I want to maintain good performance until I am discharged from the military, and continue my competition to be a starting member in Daejeon," Yoo said. "I remember sharing my first year as a pro with Hwang Sun-hong in Pohang. I was disappointed that I could hardly play a game at that time, but I hope I can be of help this time."

Yoo Kang-hyun is already in his 30s after an eventful career. Regarding this, he said, "I lacked physically when I was young, and I didn't know how to think on the ground. "I tried to make up for my shortcomings, and I still think I have improved a lot. Overseas experience also helped me a lot," he said.

Then, what is Yoo's ultimate goal? "Seeing my teammates select me for the national team made me realize my goal," Yoo said. "I personally aim to participate in the East Asian Cup (2025 EAFF E-1 Championship), and I think any player should be greedy. As a striker, it is important to increase his points of attack and maintain good physical condition." 메이저사이트

Yoo Kang-hyun has finally realized his later life after the 10th recruitment of his own team was deployed. "I asked and they said there are 500 or 10 days left," said Yoo with a smile. "As you can see from just a few players, there are many players who have become a member of the Korean national team or have made great progress in Gimcheon. What coach Chung Jung-yong calls the "land of opportunity." As he knows well that they are all good players, he has nothing to offer. "If we do our best in our respective positions, we will have an opportunity for everyone to develop," he said.