*This content was translated by AI.
It is a unique determination of the new team to challenge the professional stage with its foundation. Yongin FC will try to be promoted to the first division in the first year of the K League 2.
Yongin held an opening ceremony in connection with the New Year's concert at Yongin Poeun Art Hall in Yongin-si, Gyeonggi-do on the 4th. The event was attended by major soccer figures and citizens, including Yongin Special Mayor Lee Sang-il, president of the Korea Professional Football Federation Kwon Oh-gap, technical director Lee Dong-guk, and first manager Choi Yoon-kyum.
Yongin Mayor Lee Sang-il said at a press conference after the inauguration ceremony, "The inauguration ceremony ended successfully with a lot of support and expectations from citizens. "The club's start was excellent," he said. "We will support it as much as possible to contribute to the development of Korean soccer."
In particular, Mayor Lee said, "I like soccer, but I don't know it well. I won't say, "Let go of your stomach," but I'll block the draft. We will support the coach, director, and coaching staff, who are soccer experts, to run the team well," he said, promising field-oriented administration.
Mayor Lee then said, "Yongin FC is a team that saves the city's identity. I'll save my fair sportsmanship. "It is not desirable to deal with too much stimulation," he said. "Two Suwon teams (Suwon Samsung and Suwon FC) will play in K League 2 this year. "You may naturally have a sense of rivalry, but I will play fair and square in any game," he added.
Coach Choi Yoon-kyum said, "I'm more than 90% satisfied with the composition of the team. Two more mercenaries, including goalkeeper Novo (Portugal), came and formed a 29-man squad, adding, "We will be able to play various games." I have to open the lid, but I will prepare well through winter training," he said.
Yongin, which is trying to play in the K League 2 stage for the first time this year, has recruited a large number of quality players. Coach Choi Yoon-kyum said, "The goal was to challenge the sixth place, which is about the middle to upper level before the formation of the players," adding, "But the players are confident of direct promotion." I'm worried and looking forward to it," he said with a smile.
On the background of the unconventional recruitment of foreign goalkeepers, head coach Choi Yoon-kyum said, "It's thanks to your generous support. "I thought the goalkeeper was the most important, and I asked him to pick me as a mercenary because several teams are special positions that take advantage of their build-up strengths," he explained.
Yongin recruited a large number of veteran players, including Shin Jin-ho, Seok Hyun-jun, Kim Min-woo, and Choi Young-jun. Regarding the management of player injuries, manager Choi Yoon-kyum said, "This year's K League 2 will host a second Robin and there will be a World Cup break. There are people who are concerned because there are many older players, but they carefully looked at the records for both physical strength and data and decided that there was no problem. We selected capable players," he stressed.
After retiring from active duty, Lee Dong-guk will take on his second challenge as an administrator as a technical director in Yongin, following the vice chairman of the Korea Football Association. Regarding the process of appointing Yongin director, Lee Dong-guk said, "After retiring in 2020, I did things that were not related to soccer. I thought about how many times I could go as the director of the founding team. Therefore, Yongin was an attractive position, he said. "It was easy to choose because the mayor provided full support. I am also satisfied with the process of forming a team," he said.
In particular, director Lee Dong-guk said of Seok Hyun-jun, the first recruit player, "We plan to make him a franchise star by utilizing the characteristics of a player who grew up in Yongin." While talking on the phone, he said he would pass on all the know-how to play until the age of 40. Now it's all up to Seok Hyun-jun," he said in trust.
Referring to the philosophy of coach Nifomnishi, who was a teacher in the past, Choi Yoon-kyum said, "I told the team that I would treat him warmly with my father's heart, the coach's heart, and the senior's heart. You must be good at soccer and not have a good personality. We will make it the most enjoyable team among the 27 teams and a team with deep friendship, he said. "We will give pleasure and win at home through active soccer."
Yongin will leave for off-season training in Hua Hin, Thailand on the 5th and begin to quench for the 2026 season promotion race in earnest.
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*This content was translated by AI.
