hankyoreh

By Park Hyun-chul, staff reporter in Bangkok

Lee Seung-woo (FC Barcelona Juvenil A) always aims for the number one spot. He and his team won second place in the Asian Football Confederation under-16 championship, but their goal had been first place. His dream for the under-17 World Cup, taking place in Chile in Oct. 2015, is to raise the victor’s trophy.

“We’re already the best in Asia. We can hold our own against any team,” Lee Seung-woo told a Hankyoreh reporter in Bankgok, Thailand, on Sept. 20, referring to the 23 members of the Korean national team, which he was playing for.

To this self-assured young player, losing to North Korea on Sept. 20 by a score of one to two was a good lesson. The North Korean defenders were ready for Lee Seung-woo, and as soon as he got the ball, they were on him, getting physical and tackling him roughly.

The South Korean offense ran into difficulties during the game, preventing Lee Seung-woo from receiving many good passes. While he did not manage to score many goals, the fancy footwork and penetration that he showed during the quarterfinals against Japan were also in evidence in the final game. He protested to the referee each time the North Korean defenders broke the rules, but he is to be commended for staying poised throughout the game.

While Lee Seung-woo is often hailed as the Korean Messi, he also has a reputation for being a jerk. Choi Jin-cheol, coach of the 16-and-under team, described this as an “expression of confidence.” “Before long, Lee will be an athlete that can represent South Korea,” the coach said.

The overconfidence that Lee showed in the final match is easy to understand as his passion for winning. Such behavior comes natural for this game-changer and team ace, the forward who cheers on the defenders and midfielders on his own team, while making an undaunted response to opponents that want to play rough. As if aware of the various ways that he is viewed, Lee greeted the officials with courtesy when he entered the field. When asked about his personality, Lee declined to elaborate. “I don’t think that’s something for me to judge,” he said.

Lee was the top scorer in the tournament with five goals and five assists in five games, and the Asian Football Confederation named him the tournament’s MVP. Even while Lee expressed his disappointment about not winning, he was already turning his attention to the next challenge. “My dream is to be part of the first team for FC Barcelona. I have to do that in the next three or four years,” he said.

“Playing on the first string for the national team is the dream of any soccer player. I will get ready so I can hit the field whenever I am called,” he said.

“I’m really sad and disappointed that we didn’t win the game. This will be a chance for us to grow and develop even more,” Lee wrote on his Twitter account late at night on Sept. 21.

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]