Most Bright Star Hong Myung-bo !
True to the name was Ever-lasting libero Hong Myung-bo (age 33×Pohang).
Even the recent popularity of Vacuum cleaner, Kim nam-il (Junnam) and Prince of Hidink, Song Jong-guk (Busan) cannot exceed Hong.
On August 2nd, the Korea Pro Soccer Association or K-league has announced the result of all-star fans poll. Hong with 431,652 popularity votes became the star of star over Kim by 10,118 votes. Kim has 370,315 votes.
This all-star poll was conducted in K-leagues official Internet homepage and various pro soccer clubs homepages since July 15th to July 31st. The voting system allows each voter selects best eleven of from each division, central teams (Anyang LG, Suwon Samsung, Sungnam Il-hwas, Buchon SK and Daejun Citizen) and southern teams (Junnam Dragons, Pohang Steelers, Junbuk Hyundai Motors, Busan Icons and Ulsan Hyundai). The system permits each voter to vote only once per day but its possible to vote again on next day. In result, there were about 430,000 voters but number of votes has exceeded it.
After Hong and Kim, Whirlwind midfielder Lee Young-pyo (Anyang) and Song Jong-guk became 3rd and 4th rank with 368,484 votes and 365,564 votes accordingly.
Lee Woon-jae (Suwon), Kim Byung-ghi, Lee Chun-soo (both Ulsan) and others, thirteen national team members out of fifteen who plays in K-league were selected. Plain K-leaguers such as Kho Jong-soo (Suwon), Lee Dong-guk (Pohang) Park Jin-sup (Ulsan), Shin Tae-yong (Sungnam) and Lee Kwan-woo (Daejun) were also selected, as all-stars even through they didnt participate in the World Cup games.
Especially, goalkeeper Kim Byung-ghi has set the record by becoming the all-star soccer player for seven years consecutively since 1995.
2002 K-league All-star game will be held on August 15th, in Sang-am Seoul World Cup Stadium. Participating players are eighteen players from each central and southern division including managers choice players. Central division will be lead by Cha Kyung-bok, Sungnams manager and southern division will be lead by Kim Jung-nam, Ulsans manager.
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