Jeju Manager Kim Hak-beom AG recruited midfielder Kim Jung-min for a joint 'persona'
Kim Jung-min, once considered one of the best prospects, will join hands with Kim Hak-beom, the director of "Eunsa." Kim's "Persona" shows his wings for revival.
Kim Jong-min was a promising player with a brilliant career. He was selected as one of the 60 promising players in the world by the British media Guardian in 2016, drawing keen attention and also stood out in national teams of all ages.
He won the gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games under head coach Kim, and even made his A-match debut in a friendly match against Australia on November 17, 2018. In 2019, he helped South Korea achieve the best performance (second place) in the history of the FIFA U-20 Poland World Cup.
Unfortunately, however, he failed to secure a clear exclamation point on the professional stage. He joined Red Bull Salzburg in 2018, but afterwards, he moved to Gangwon FC on loan through FC refurbishment, FC Admira Barker Modling, and Vitoria SC.
He went on a lease to Busan I'Park in July of the same year, and experienced the K-League 2 stage for two seasons. In the 2023 season, he moved to FC Anyang and played a total of six games, but he has moved away from the spotlight. Now, it is time to get rid of the label "promising star" by wearing the Jeju uniform.
Kim knows Kim better than anyone else. At the time, Kim was only 18 years old, but he played in a total of five matches. From the round of 16 to the final, he displayed his trust by fielding Kim.
Head coach Kim Hak-beom, who had been closely watching Kim Jung-min's moves, judged that Kim Jung-min's potential, which has not yet appeared in the K League record sheet, is valid.
With the addition of Kim, Jeju's midfielders have become more solid. Although Kim left his team to serve in the military, he expanded his capability by recruiting Kim following his departure from Brazil's 1m 90 tall defensive midfielder.
Kim Jung-min can create a new synergy effect in the Jeju midfield with his sophisticated passes and powerful shots, as well as his solid physical (1m82, 80kg). In particular, his brilliant pass line, which was proven at the national team and professional level by age, is considered one of the best among fans.
As Jeju has a strong midfield partner who supports Choi Young-joon and Ichiro, his strengths are expected to be fully displayed. Competition in good faith with Kim Gun-woong, a fellow winner of the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games, is also expected to be a great help to Jeju.
"I'm so happy to be part of a good team called Jeju. It's even better to be with coach Kim Hak-beom again. I'll try to be a player who can give trust to all the members of Jeju, including coaching staff, teammates, secretariat of the team, and supporters. I'll continue to make efforts with the determination of 'Mapujib (to make needles by changing axes)," which was my debut at the Asian Games, so that I can achieve success with all the members in Jeju, Kim said.