Announcement

Seriously Korean will be back next week.

News feed Thursday January 12th, 2012: K-League .

Not so long before the new year, K-League revealed their plan to organize a second tier league. With four bottom clubs from 2012 scheduled to play second division football beginning a year from now, the long dreamt promotion and relegation looked to be making their way into Korean football. At the same time, critics remained sceptical, as the plan was seemingly made overnight and some wondered if the blueprint was released sooner than it should have been. Today, a select few K-League clubs demanded that, instead of the initial 4 teamed relegation, K-League relegate just two clubs into the second division. The clubs commented on the the league's inability to execute their promised plans, stressing on the negatives of playing in a disorganized second tier league. Here are other news around Korean football today:

• Newly appointed manager of the national team, Choe Ganghui, yet again made noises with his usually well received remarks. First, he chose goalkeeper Gim Yeonggwang over the national team regular Jeong Seongryong while selecting his 'K-League best 11', hinting at possible changes in the upcoming future. Secondly, he declared wild praises for Jeonbuk Hyndai Motors deep lying forward Eninho, who, beginning next month, will be eligible for Korean citizenship. Thirdly, Choe, with a confident look, stated that Kuwait should not be a concern for Korea. Commenting with as little amount of disrespect to Kuwait displayed as possible, Choe explained that, although Kuwait is a great team, Korea is just that much better. Lastly, Choe revealed his consideration of visiting Bak Juyeong and the likes situated in Europe to examine their fitness, morale, and otherwise overall status.

• After being denied a return to the K-League, free agent and former Omiya Ardija man Yi Cheonsu is now linked with a rumoured transfer to China. Acknowledged by Yi's associate, the article written suggested Beijing Guaon FC and Tianjin Teda FC as potential employers. Meanwhile, another former Korean international, Seol Gihyeon, was also linked with several unnamed clubs from China yesterday. Seol is currently a free agent after failing to land a contract renewal from Ulsan Hyundai FC. Heo Jeongmu of Incheon United declared interest, but Seol revealed that there was only a 60% chance that he remain in Korea for the upcoming season.

• Players caught match fixing during last year's scandal are slowly making moves abroad, according to Sports Seoul. Last summer, Yi Jeongho moved to Ettifaq FC of Saudi Arabia. Initially, Busan I'Park denied the transfer, explaining the obvious reasons, but when Al-Ittifaq threatened to sue Busan over their decision, the club was forced to allow the transfer. Under the league's rules, K-League teams are reserved the right deny a transfer of any kind, but the league's rules may be considered only as a 'local' rule during some cases and ignored over much more powerful FIFA rules--which many times protect the players more so than they protect the clubs. Those caught match fixing are currently getting no playing time after receiving life time bans--a condition where a FIFA ruling may be required. Clubs around Asia are looking to take this opportunity to land cheap signings and, most recently, Choe Seongguk had been linked Tianjin Teda FC.

• Having made a living out of making saves in crucial moments of the match, retired Korean international Yi Unjae revealed his secrets to saving penalties. His three advices to all aspiring penalty stoppers were to know the bounds of range, never be the first to make a move, and keep up with the global trend of penalties.

News feed Tuesday January 10th, 2012: La Masia to come to Korea

If you are a fan of Korean football, you most likely have heard the names Baek Seungho, Jang Gyeolhui, and Yi Seungwu--a triplet of youths now training in FC Barcelona's youth academy. The trio of next-Lionel Messi hopefuls at 'La Masia', as the academy is known, were all playing in Korea no longer than two years ago. After Baek made the initial move to Catalonia back in 2010, Jang and Yi soon followed by joining the club's Cadette A side last year. The three players have impressed so much at FC Barcelona, that the club decided to open Korea's own FC Barcelona academy at Pocheon--a small town located an hour north of Seoul.

Teaming with an academy once known as 'FC Kim Heetae Football Center', the newly formed 'FC Kim Heetae Barcelona Football Center' will serve not only as a training facility to many of the country's top youth footballers, but also as a full-time academic institution. Its students will receive all-year long tutelage from Barcelona-trained coaches at the academy, as well as one-on-one English and Spanish lessons, meanwhile attending one of three nearby schools designated to them during daytime.

Gim Huitae, the founder of the academy and the former manager of Myungi University, is most famous for recruiting then little known Bak Jiseong and grooming him into a national U23 team player. Gim is also known for coaching An Jeonghwan during their days at Ajou University. Here are other news around Korean football today:

• Korean international Yi Geunho will move to Ulsan Hyundai FC after a long awaited anticipation. The deal looked to be off last weekend when Daegu FC, Yi's last club in K-League, and Ulsan could not come to terms on the transfer fee, but the deal was completed last night when Ulsan agreed to send former Chievo Verona reserve Yi Jinho and cash to Daegu.

• Yi Yeongpyo, who is in training with FC Seoul to prepare for the upcoming season, made the headlines yesterday by finishing second out of all players during the squad shuttle run. The 35 year old Vancouver Whitecap recorded 185 completions in the 21 metre shuttle run and was only out-done by one unnamed player believed to be a youth prospect.

• In his column at Nate, John Duerden expressed the need for the K-League to sort out the Yi Cheonsu debacle, comparing the 115-paged report by The Football Association (the governing body of football in England) on Luis Suarez's racism eviction to K-League's ignorance and otherwise emotional approach to the on-going conflict surrounding Yi and Chunnam Dragons. Duerden accused the league of being irresponsible and demanded them for actions. Meanwhile, another columnist at Nate, Gim Hyeonhoe, defended Chunnam for their decision not to permit Yi's transfer.

News feed Sunday January 8th, 2012: Gim Jeongwu finalizes deal with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

When Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors reported their deal with Gim Jeongwu complete last month, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma screamed violation, accusing Jeonbuk of contacting Gim before the expiration of his contract with Seongnam. Jeonbuk responded by backtracking and removing their statement of the new signing, in the process signaling to Jeonbuk's fans that the deal may be completely off.

To the relief of their fans, Gim Jeongwu's contract was finalized last week. Gim was without a doubt the biggest fish to pry this offseason, with at least five K-League clubs reported to having made an offer. Jeonbuk's interim coach Yi Heungsil have already come out to say Gim will play a 'key' role in the midfield-stacked club. Gim is scheduled to make 4.5 billion KRW  (approximately 4 million USD) over the course of next three years--a salary believed to be in the top rank among K-Leguers. Here are other news around Korean football:

• In an interview with Joongang SUNDAY, manager Choe Ganghui confirmed yet again his desire of leaving the national team at the conclusion of the World Cup qualifiers. Choe also spoke of Bak Jiseong and Yi Cheonsu's rumoured returns to the national team, explaining the unlikelihood of either comebacks. 

• To add another headline to increasing pile, Bak Hangseo, the former manager of Chunnam Dragons, revealed that he has accepted Yi's apology. Bak Hangseo signed Yi Cheonsu on a sublease back in 2009 and was at the scene during Yi's altercation with Chunnam's coaching staff just before Yi's eventual transfer. Bak claimed that he received Yi's apology through a phone call this winter and has since forgiven Yi. However, Bak also stated that Yi's apologies are each open to interpretation and that he has little control over Chunnam's decision to permit his return to the K-League. Meanwhile, OSEN guesses the on-going trial over Yi Cheonsu's departure as one of the reasons to why Chunnam is refusing to sign off Yi's release papers. Chunnam was reportedly due 375,000,000 KRW (approximately 330,000 USD) from Yi when he had left the club during the loan period. Yi contested the claim by counter suing for his release, stating that he had no acknoledgement over the conditions nor the fine.

News feed Saturday January 7th, 2012: Veterans to see return to the national team

Ever since Choe Ganghui was named as the head coach of the national team, it had been a long wonder of the fans to see just how many of Choe's pupils from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors will make the transition to the national team. Yesterday, manager Choe revealed his desire to select as many Jeonbuk players as he can, confessing that he will not shy away from resorting to Jeonbuk's recent success at his new job.

The 2011 K-League winners have surprisingly, but largely been ignored at the national team during Jo Gwangrae's tenure. Manager Jo opted to base his national team with younger, more fresh faces--many of whom belonged to clubs in the bottom half of the K-League table. Yesterday, Choe Ganghui suggested changes were about to come by declaring Gim Sangsik, a 37 year old defensive midfielder, a strong selection candidate for the upcoming World Cup qualifiers against Kuwait. Following are other news around Korean football:

• Yi Cheonsu most recently made the headlines with his public apology and beggary towards Chunnam Dragons. Because of the two parties' last encounter that ended with a forced release by Chunnam, Yi needs Chunnam's permission in order to return to the K-League. Yesterday, the Chunnam Dragons announced on their official website that Yi Cheonsu's apologetic behaviours are lacking seriousness thus they will not be allowing Yi Cheonsu's transfer to a Korean club. Chunnam's decision results in a huge blow to Yi who had been pushing for his K-League return all winter long.

• Hong Myeongbo's U23 side got on their first plane ride of the new year to start off their 2012 campaign. The U23 side will make a brief visit to Okinawa, then fly to Thailand to take part in the exhibitionary King's Cup tournament. The tournament is to be served as a preparation for the upcoming Olympic qualifying matches in February, which will be played away from home in Saudi Arabia and Oman. MKSports highlights the importance of the Middle East double header, explaining that the full squad Hong has now may not be available due to the overlapping schedule with the senior team and the start of the K-League and J.League seasons when the final Olympic qualifying match against Qatar is played on March.

• Incheon United is planning on inviting a North Korean club, rumoured to be April 25 Sports Club, to play the club's debuting match in Sungui Arena Park--Incheon United's new home stadium. If the plan is successful, it will mark the first time in which a North Korean football club is hosted on South Korean soil.

Announcement

Seriously Korean will return tomorrow.

Announcement

My sister and her boyfriend recently announced that they will be getting married after a healthy four year relationship. I just want to take this time to congratulate them for the exciting accomplishment.

The 2006 World Cup-connected couple are both fans of the sport, and, to my understanding, admirers of my writing.

I wish them a world of happiness and a joy on their wedding day next year.