“Thanks to the Foster Father .Now I’ll Get Married”

“The reason I could stand here, that’s all thanks to my father in Jecheon.”

The MVP award for the 2003 Samsung Hauzen K-League goes to 33-year-old Kim Do-hoon of Songnam Ilhwa with the overwhelming recognition, 73 votes out of 74 votes, by the soccer reporters’ ballot. He attributed the honor of winning his first MVP to his father in Jecheon (step father Han Sang-woo).

To Kim, the regular season scoring leader with 28 goals, the “father in Jecheon” is the “soccer godfather.” Kim could never have started playing soccer nor become one of the best strikers in Korea without him. As his biological parents are in Tongyeong City of South Kyungsang, Kim has instead leaned on his “father in Jecheon.”

Kim’s thorough self-management is influenced by his “father in Jecheon.” Kim said, “He emphasized sincerity and temperance and kept saying that fortune and honor comes along when you do your best.”

Kim, who returned to Korea on December 11 after having finished the East Asian Cup Tournament held in Japan, directly went to Jecheon and spent the evening with his “father in Jecheon” and then went back to Seoul.

“What I did is nothing…. He was the scorer of the year and league MVP because he (Do-hoon) worked hard. I just watched him,” said Han Sang-woo.

Han, who raised and supported Kim Do-hoon since childhood, didn’t attend the ballot counting at the Grand Hilton Hotel. Han is notorious for not attending events and not making his presence known.

Kim, who wore the Chonbuk Hyundai Motors’ uniform, performed poorly last season due to troubles with his team. However, this year as he has built a nest in Songnam at the suggestion of coach Cha Kyung-bok, who was the coach when he played for the Chonbuk Dinos, he has recaptured the recognition of being the best player in the league.

Kim, with swelling in his face which hasn’t subsided yet due to his cheekbone collapsing at the match against Japan in East Asian Cup Tournament, expressed, “This year was an unforgettable year in my professional career. Now I want to get married and live a stable life.” He is also thinking about leaving the national team for younger players.

Kim also was chosen among the “Best Eleven” of attackers along with MVP to take two summits. The Best Coach award went to Cha Kyung-bok of Songnam.

Meanwhile, the Best Rookie award was given to “Patriot” Jung Jo-kook (Anyang LG). Jung, who has played the best performance among rookies with 12 goals and 1 assist, received 43 votes, beating strong rival Choi Sung-kook (31 votes, Ulsan Hyundai).

A ceremony to award the prizes will be held at Grand Hilton Hotel on December 18.

Jong-Koo Yang yjongk@donga.com