What’s the one thing that connects Normal Bin → Hyunkyu Oh → Joo Chan Kim?… “Joo Chan came to visit me about two weeks ago.”
One of the hottest players on the Suwon Samsung team right now is Kim Joo-chan. In his debut season in the K League this year, the 2004-born striker scored back-to-back goals against Ulsan Hyundai and Gangwon FC to prove that he has what it takes to be a ‘supernova’.
Suwon Samsung has seen a steady stream of new faces in the last three seasons. In 2021, 2002-born Jung Sang-bin shook up the game, in 2022, 2001-born Oh Hyun-gyu made his presence felt and saved the team, and in 2023, 2004-born Kim Joo-chan is showing signs of following in the footsteps of Jung Sang-bin and Oh Hyun-gyu.
What all three players have in common is their unorthodox performances. Regardless of how much time they spent in the pros, they always moved the ball confidently on the field. Jung Sang-bin sprinted for space, Oh Hyeon-gyu bumped hard, and Kim Joo-chan stood out for his dribble development, which often left opposing defenders flustered and open.
Suwon Samsung senior Ko Seung-bum recently shared an anecdote about Kim Joo-chan.
“Actually, when I was a rookie, it was hard for me to approach my older brothers, but Joo Chan is different. About two weeks ago, he came to me and said, ‘Seung-bum, I’m having trouble with this part of your soccer. I need your help,'” he said. It’s not easy to approach someone like that. In a way, I should have gone to him and told him, but seeing him come to me first and make an effort made me think a lot. Most of all, I thought, “This guy is ready to succeed.””
Kim’s secret to success is that he tries his best not only on the field, but off it as well. The courage to go to his older brother and ask for advice, even when it might be difficult, in order to get one more point, was something Ko Seung-bum appreciated not only for his skills but also for his unseen efforts. He also said, “It’s amazing.”
Jung Sang-bin, Oh Hyun-gyu, and Kim Joo-chan had one thing in common: their proactivity. “I used to be an introvert,” said Ko Seung-bum, “but as I watched them play, I realized that players who were outgoing became successful. If you think about it, Joo Chan, Sang Bin, and Hyun Kyu are very bold. They have their own pride, so they work harder, and that hard work brings success. You can’t help but look good,” he said, referring to the traits that run through the stars produced by Suwon Samsung.
The three players mentioned have been growing steadily. Jung has traveled to Europe and recently to the U.S. to further develop his skills, while Oh has found a home at the prestigious Scottish club Celtic. Both have already earned caps for the South Korean national team. Kim Joo-chan also has a lot of potential for growth. Kim’s potential was recognized by Suwon Samsung head coach Kim Byung-soo. It will be interesting to see how and how much the young stars of the Suwon Samsung program will grow in the future. 스포츠토토