One Goal Away: Can Son Heung-min Break South Korea’s World Cup Record?

[Anchor] Captain Son Heung-min, who will drive Hong Myung-bo’s attack up front, and goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, who will guard the net at the back, are preparing together for their fourth World Cup. Both are headed to a fourth consecutive tournament and say they still feel the same excitement as when they first got the call. Woo Jun-seong reports. [Reporter] Son arrived in the Salt Lake City pre-camp after finishing his LAFC schedule. With only about a two-hour flight, he said he felt fresh and in excellent condition. 「Son Heung-min / National Team」 “Staying and playing here in the U.S. will make it easier to adapt, so I can prepare better. I’m in very good shape right now.” In 2014 in Brazil, Son was the 22-year-old rookie on the squad. Now 34 and serving as captain, he’s on the verge of his fourth World Cup—matching the record for most World Cup appearances by a Korean player. Son has three career World Cup goals; one more would make him the all-time World Cup scoring leader for South Korea. 「Son Heung-min / National Team」 “It’s my fourth World Cup, but I’ll prepare with the same excitement I felt at my first.” Goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu, born in 1990 and now the team’s longest-serving member, is also preparing for his fourth World Cup. He didn’t play at the 2018 World Cup in Russia after losing out to Jo Hyeon-woo for the starting spot. With intense competition expected, Kim says he’s focused on staying grounded. 「Kim Seung-gyu / National Team」 “The World Cup is a stage every player dreams about. It never stops being exciting—no matter how many times you go, it still feels like the first time.” Son will be Hong Myung-bo’s sharp spear and Kim his dependable shield. The two veteran leaders say they’ll push one more time with the same mindset they had at the start—possibly for what could be their final World Cup. This is Woo Jun-seong for Yonhap News TV. [Video source: Korea Football Association] [Video editing: Kim Dong-hyun, Kim Se-na] [Graphics: Kang Young-jin] #CONCACAFWorldCup #SonHeungmin #Captain #KimSeunggyu #MostAppearances Yonhap News TV inquiries and tips: KakaoTalk/Line jebo23; Woo Jun-seong (Spaceship@yna.co.kr)