New Soccer Star Han Ready to Leap Forward

On March 28, after the pre soccer match between Korea and Uzbekistan for the 2008 Beijing Olympics ended, Korean national team head coach Pim Verbeek praised the nonstop mid-distance shooting of Han Dong-won (21, Seongnam Ilhwa), who made two goals that day, saying, “It was nice; he may never make such a good shot again. He should find and keep the game DVD.”

Did Han find the DVD?

“I downloaded the game instead of finding a DVD. I download and watch all the games I play in.”

After Han made four goals in the national team’s two matches, he has been in the spotlight as Korean soccer’s star-shooter.

However, Han looked calm, saying, “I don’t feel like I am a star. But I met some of my old friends in elementary school when they contacted me after the games.”

Han is called “Doo-hyeon’s younger brother” in Ilhwa because he looks like national team mid-fielder Kim Doo-hyeon (26).

He is also called “Rooney” because he has a chubby face like Manchester United’s striker Wayne Rooney’s.

Kim is Han’s role model. Han said, “Kim has been my favorite player. He is not nervous in games and is good at passes and shots.”

Kim said, “Han has techniques and shooting sense. He has not shown what he has yet. He will play better in future games.”

In the games, Han filled in for the absence of “soccer genius” Park Joo-yeong (22).

Kim compared the two players, saying, “Park is a striker while Han is a midfielder. Park is good at central and side offense as a striker. Han has good sense in running a game.”

Han is strong at finding positions and reading the ball courses.

Han said, “I was a ball boy for the Suwon Samsung soccer team when I attended Suwon South Middle. My observation of how players move was helpful. I picture in my mind how I will move over the ground through image training.”

He started playing soccer when he was a third grader at Suwon Yuljeon Elementary. He went pro right after he graduated from middle school. He explained, “I thought I’d better go pro as early as I could.”

He is not loosening reins as he is about to leap forward with fame. After the interview, he ran to the field so as not to be late for training.

bluesky@donga.com