"There are a lot of things to learn about the national team's all-time second-term competition." K League 1's Best 11 Lee Dong-kyung said, "I'll be competitive by making use of my own strengths."

"There are a lot of things to learn about the national team's all-time second-term competition." K League 1's Best 11 Lee Dong-kyung said, "I'll be competitive by making use of my own strengths."

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2024 was a year of many things for Lee Dong-kyung (27, Kim Cheon-sang-moo).

Lee's performance in the early days of the 2024 season was remarkable. He played in Ulsan HD during the early days of the 2024 season and recorded seven goals and five assists in 18 K League matches. It is no exaggeration to say that Lee scored when he caught the ball.

Lee Dong-kyung joined the military on April 29, 2024. After completing basic military training, he played the second half of the 2024 season at Gimcheon Sangmu. Lee Dong-kyung needed time to regain his performance. As he had such high expectations for himself, he had to overcome the heavy burden.

Lee Dong-kyung was Lee Dong-kyung.

Lee Dong-kyung scored 12 goals and six assists in 26 K-League 1 matches in the 2024 season. For the first time since her debut as a pro player in the 2018 season, Lee was named one of the top 11 players in the K-League. In the third qualifying round for the 2026 North-China World Cup in Asia, she was even invited by the Korean national soccer team. It was the first time in a year that Lee joined the national team.
Lee Dong-kyung is not satisfied with his performance in the 2024 season. Lee pledged to grow up to the fullest until the day he finishes his military service.

MK Sports listened to Lee Dong-kyung's story.

Q. Gimcheon started preparing for the 2025 season from December 16, 2024. The preparation for the new season is very fast. Although you are serving in the military, did you take a break after the 2024 season.

I used my vacation to spend time with my family. I think I spent the longest time with my baby. I focused on parenting (laughs).

Q. Many athletes say 'parenting is harder than exercising'.

The first three days or so were really difficult (laughs). I think I enjoyed watching the baby since I got used to it. The baby is so cute. I miss my wife and kids every day. I think the importance of family is getting bigger while I'm in the military.

Q. I started the 2024 season in Ulsan and finished the year in Gimcheon. How are you looking back on 2024.

I think the year has been very long. It has changed a lot. We went to the training center. It's called a "memories after a while." I think it's a year that has left a lot of memories. Every moment was fun.

Q. He showed tremendous performance in the early 2024 season when he played in the Ulsan uniform. During the winter training in January 2024, did you feel that his physical condition was definitely better than before.

After the 2023 season, I talked a lot with Coach Hong Myung-bo. The main focus was preparation for the 2024 season. Coach Hong Myung-bo told me the direction he wanted. While paying attention to that, I continued to prepare for the 2024 season. After I went to Germany, I didn't show good performance. I thought to myself, 'The 2024 season is really important.' I think I reduced my rest and focused more on training.

Q. Ulsan had an early start to the year in the round of 16 teams at the AFC Champions League (ALC) in the 2023-24 season. From the beginning of the new year, did you feel that your body is different this year.

During the winter training, I felt that my body was definitely in good shape. The more I trained, the more I became confident. There have been many matches since the beginning of this year. I believed that if I had the chance, I could do well. I think playing with confidence from the beginning of the 2024 season has resulted in good results.

Q. It was a match between Ulsan and Jeju United at Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on April 28. It was a day before Lee Dong-kyung joined the army. Lee Dong-kyung scored one goal and one assist as a starter on the day. Ulsan, led by Lee Dong-kyung's performance, came from behind to beat Jeju 3-1. He played until the day before he joined the army.

He was about a month old when he was born. At first, he was going to spend time with his family. Then coach Hong Myung-bo told him to "do as you please." However, he didn't think the same (laughs). He said, "Even if you come home from rest now, it will not be very helpful for raising children." He said, "I would be very happy if you could play until the day before your enlistment and show good performance." He followed his words.

Q: You played through the ninth round in Ulsan. With seven goals and five assists, you tied for first in scoring and singlehandedly ranked first in assists. You were in great physical condition, but after returning from the training camp, you had difficulty finding your performance. Which part was the most difficult.

"You can't do soccer training at the training center. That was the hardest part. Usually, players only take two or three weeks off after finishing a season. After that, they start preparing for the new season. After a while, they start to build up their bodies and join the team's training. I haven't been able to exercise for five weeks at the training center. I think that was the hardest part. Also, I spent a lot of time standing. I think it was also hard."

Q. What is the intensity of training at the training center that athletes feel.

The training was fun. Shooting and grenades were especially memorable. As I said before, it was a little difficult because of the long waiting time. I felt a lot of fatigue. Whenever I look at the training center, I think I'll leave unforgettable memories.

Q. I needed time to find my performance after joining Gimcheon. Coach Chung Jung-yong also said, "I have to do well."

"When I first joined the team and played, I was okay. It wasn't too much pressure. But we lost consecutive games in the summer of 2024. The longer we didn't get to know each other, the more pressure we felt. My goal was scored late in Gimcheon. If the goal had gone in quickly, I would have gained confidence faster, but that was a pity. I think the longer the scoreless goal, the more impatient I was.

Q. You showed great performance in Ulsan and joined the army. Didn't you feel pressured to meet the expectations of the soccer community.

To be honest, I did. I felt myself in a really good condition before I joined the army. I knew that my expectations were higher than usual. So I think I had a strong feeling that I needed to show something faster. I was under a lot of pressure.

Q. Finally, I found my performance. Gimcheon contributed to the competition to win the K League 1 title until the end of the 2024 season.

Gimcheon has many talented players. I think those players have a strong will to "improve more than now." I think that motivation has developed both the team and the individual. Also, there are no foreign players in Gimcheon. In most K-League clubs, foreign strikers are the first option. That's not the case with Gimcheon, so Korean strikers sweat more. If you work hard on the training ground, you can get a chance to play. I think that's why I sweated with good teammates and solid goals.

Q. Did not have a foreign player come as a better opportunity for Lee Dong-kyung, the ace, or a bigger burden.

Ulsan is the best team in the K League 1. There are always good foreign players. They have not only skills but also experience. So I think I was also a challenger in Ulsan. I had to challenge foreign players and seize opportunities. I think I received high expectations from foreign players in Gimcheon. At first, I think that came as a burden (laughs).

Personally, I don't think I've ever received this much attention. I don't think I've ever had this much expectation, so I think I've been thinking about how to meet the expectations of the soccer community every day.

Q: It's unexpected. Lee Dong-kyung has represented different ages and is also active in the national team. Didn't he receive great attention as an ace player in the Olympic team.

I think representatives by age group are a little different. When I was a member of the national team by age group, I had a lot of time to prepare. I worked with my teammates for a long time. I think that time eased the burden. It was different in Gimcheon. As soon as I came out of the training center, I felt pressured to show something. There was also difficulty in working with new players in real games.

Q. In Gimcheon, there are Lee Dong-joon and Kim Dae-won who worked with Lee Dong-kyung in the national team by age. Is it helpful for you to serve in the military.

"I'm sure. Having teammates I know well gives me a sense of peace of mind. Whether it's Dong-joon or Kim Dae-won, they've been with each other for a long time. We don't have to tell each other what kind of strengths they have and what they want in the stadium. I think that's a big help for us to adapt to the new environment and show better performance.

Q. Gimcheon's preparation for the 2025 season is fast.

"After the 2024 season, my break was not long (laughs). I think I'm preparing for the new season by focusing a little more on recovery. Usually, the season started in March. The 2025 season starts about two weeks earlier. The season starts early, so it's not strange to prepare quickly. Players are also very willing to make a good season with a new mindset.

Q. It's been a long time since Gimcheon went on a training trip abroad. What are the reactions of the players.

I think any team will have expectations for off-season training. It's because they work out in a new environment. I get excited when the place where I work out changes. January in Vietnam is warm, unlike Korea. It will be very helpful in preparing for the new season because there is little risk of injury.

Q. What do you usually do during personal maintenance after joining the army.

There is nothing I can do other than working out (laughs). I try to put a lot of emphasis on weight training. I try to spend most of my time at the gym. I don't really like weight training. The idea is to spend all of my time on weight training on the playground to kick a ball. However, in Gimcheon, I have to adjust to Gimcheon's environment. I try to spend my extra time to help me improve more than I do now.

Q. I was selected as the top 11 in the K League 1 of the 2024 season. What does this award mean.

During his seven years in the professional league, he was named one of the best 11 players. I didn't expect much before I won the award. There were many good players in the striker category. Some of them scored more and helped more than I did. I thought, "If you were a midfielder, you could get it," but when I saw he was included as a candidate in the striker category, I gave up my expectations.

In 2019, I was nominated for the Young Player Award and visited the award ceremony. It was my first time attending an award ceremony since then. I went with excitement because it was my first time in 5 years. I was very grateful to receive a good award. I thought, "I hope I can be on the podium in 2025 as well."

Q. Lee Dong-kyung has also returned to the national team based on his performance in the league in the 2024 season.

"I think it's my dream until the day I retire. I think so when I join the national team. The competition for the second term is fiercer than ever before. There are really great players competing. I learn a lot just by training with them. I feel a lot. I don't want to be satisfied there. I want to be constantly called by the national team. I want to make use of my strengths and make up for my shortcomings and participate in more games. I have to do well in Gimcheon.

Q: You have a deep relationship with Coach Hong Myung-bo, right? Do you feel different from the coach Hong Myung-bo you saw in Ulsan and the coach Hong Myung-bo you met again in the national team.

Coach Hong Myung-bo knows the weight of the national team better than anyone else. Should I say the atmosphere has changed a lot? He seems to have become more attentive. When I was with him every day in Ulsan, he looked like an old man from the neighborhood (laughs). When I met him again in the national team, he seemed more charismatic.

Q. What do you really want to achieve in 2025.

I want to play as many games as possible. I want to play until I feel "too tired." That way, I will be able to clearly identify what I need to do and what I lack. When I finish my military service, I will do my best to be told that I have improved one step further in Gimcheon.

In the 2025 season, I would like to focus on help rather than goals. I would like to maximize the decision-making power of the players in front of me. There are many young but talented players in Gimcheon. If I take advantage of the strengths of the players in front of me, I think I can have more fun playing soccer.

Q. Lee Dong-kyung's advantage is that he kicks his left foot accurately. Do you have any training sessions to maintain his sense of kick.

Shooting practice. I think I stay in the playground and practice shooting a lot unless my muscles are in a bad condition. On days when I practice set pieces, I tend to focus more than usual to practice.

Q: Every player dreams of joining the national team and advancing to Europe. Lee Dong-kyung not only has experience in the national team but also in Europe. What does his experience in Europe mean in his soccer career.

Coach Chung Jung-yong always emphasizes, "Pour everything out from the training ground." Yes, Europe is like that. Training is a war in Europe. I believe that all the members have to pour out 100% of their performance in the training ground to achieve better performance in the actual game. Listening to other players with experience in Europe, I can feel that the atmosphere and attitude of the training ground are definitely different.

Q. Is it a little different from Korea.

In Korea, when schedules are tight, people often focus on recovery. Since preparation for games comes first, I sometimes focus on maintaining my physical condition. Europe is 100 percent for sure. I have a firm belief that only when I hit hard on the training ground can I achieve good performance in the actual game. I think that experience in Europe makes me pay more attention to every little thing in the training ground.

Q. Do you want to try Europe again after you are discharged from the military.

If not, I would be lying. If I had the chance, I'd give it a shot. I see it as "failed in Europe." I failed and came back. There's no one in the world who wants to remain "failed and returned." If I get another chance, I'm going to do my best at this moment to make sure I succeed. 먹튀검증