“Dong-hyun, Please Don`t Follow Me”

He thought that he finally achieved his dream as meeting Byun Byung-ju (41), Director of Cheonggu High School.

Since childhood, Director Byun, former soccer star player has been his idol, and he thought if he learns from the director, everything would be OK!

Kim Dong-hyun (18, Cheonggu High School) recorded 2 goals and 1 assist in the 33rd Asian Youth Soccer Championship opened in Doha of Qatar and emerges as the best star of Asian soccer.

Two years ago when he graduated from Cheonggu Middle School and entered Cheonggu High School, he entered the accommodation with expectation to lean soccer from Director Byun Byung-ju, the director spoke unexpected word “Never follow me.”

The relationship of master-student with director Byun began like this. He was called ‘bullet’ and responsible for right wing for the World Cup in 1986 and 1990 with unbelievable speed. Kim Dong-hyun is the ‘Emerging Star’.

Kim Dong-hyun is very health with 185 centimeters height and 80 kilograms weight, and runs 10 meter by 11 seconds. So imitated Byun`s play since his childhood. However, Director Hyun has tried to make Kim different one from himself.

He taught Kim to try individual techniques rather than speed, focusing on shooting and heading training. However, Kim still imitated him, so he sent Kim to Brazil. He has already realized that simple tedious speed without individual techniques doesn`t make anything in big game such as World Cup by his experience.

Kim Dong-hyun learned soccer in Zico Club in Brazil for one year, and he has emerged rapidly in this year. After selected as a member of National Youth Team in July in this year, he succeeded marvelous turning shot in the game against national Team for Asian Game, and succeeded 2 shots in the game against Brazilian Youth Team. So the Brazilian Director appraised him “Very prospective player”.

Director Byun Byung-ju is very happy these days because of news from Qatar. Director Byun Byung-ju commented “He is similar to me in offensive power based on speed, but he added individual techniques that I didn`t have. He will be a striker for Korean soccer in next generation.“

stt77@donga.com