It was enough to shine the history of the 40th anniversary of the K-League. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony was filled with emotions.
The Korea Professional Football Federation (KFA) held an induction ceremony for six inductees into the K-League Hall of Fame on the 2nd at the Ambassador Pullman Grand Ballroom in Jangchung-dong, Seoul.
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the K-League this year, 15 candidates from each generation were selected for the Hall of Fame player category. For them, 25% each of the fan vote, the press vote, the club representative and manager vote, and the selection committee vote were reflected to determine the final four inductees. In the leader category and the contributor category, one person each was determined through internal discussions by the selection committee.
4th generation Lee Dong-guk, 3rd generation Indonesian coach Shin Tae-yong, 2nd generation Ulsan Hyundai coach Hong Myung-bo, and 1st generation Suwon FC general manager Choi Sun-ho followed the dedication ceremony. Former Ulsan coach Kim Jeong-nam was named in the leadership category, and late POSCO honorary chairman Park Tae-joon was named as a contributor.
Each of them embroidered the awards ceremony with their own unique feelings. After receiving the award as a first-generation inductee, Choi Soon-ho, general manager of Suwon FC, was recommended by honorary chairman Park Tae-joon and brought tears to his eyes as he remembered his relationship with the late POSCO honorary chairman Park Tae-joon. Director Choi said, “I still can’t forget it. Chairman Park Tae-joon built a soccer-only stadium at a time when soccer-only stadiums were unfamiliar, and also built the first club house. He said, “The president left a great legacy until the establishment of the youth system. In 2002, the introduction of the youth system was promoted. He encountered opposition, but the president supported him saying that he had to look to the future. Thanks to the president’s efforts, Korean soccer was able to develop. I would like to introduce Chairman Park Tae-joon, who loved soccer more than anyone else,” and touched the awards ceremony scene.
Chairman Park Tae-joon’s son, Park Seong-bin, who acted as an agent, said, “He really liked soccer. It was a daily life for my father to be in Pohang day and night with a sacrificial heart in the development era,” he said. “A lot of people now enjoy soccer. I wonder if this is the future my father envisioned. He had a special relationship with soccer players. He must have been proud and proud to have a glorious seat today with general manager Choi Soon-ho and coach Hong Myung-bo. I am grateful to all professional soccer players who remembered my late father and selected them as the first honorary inductees.”
Daejeon Hana Citizen Director Heo Jeong-moo, who introduced coach Hong Myung-bo, who was selected as the second-generation inductee, praised coach Hong for his playing days. Director Huh Jeong-moo, who coached coach Hong in Pohang, said, “He was a player comparable to Franz Beckenbauer (Germany). He was given the captain’s armband in his third professional year. He was like a leader on the ground that a manager could not do. He was an extraordinary player indispensable to Korea,” he praised coach Hong.
‘Eternal Libero’ coach Hong remembered 40 years ago. He said, “When the Super League started in 1983, I was a ball boy at Dongdaemun Stadium. He watched the game and played soccer with the goal of playing on that stage. In the end, 토토사이트 I am happy that that dream came true.”
In the future, legends who have made domestic soccer shine are expected to stand in front of fans and brighten the history of the K-League. The federation announced that it would add depth to the Hall of Fame by selecting and inducting additional inductees into the Hall of Fame every two years, starting with this year.