"Failed to get promoted to Suwon. I hated myself."" Kim Min-joon, who is tearful, said, "Fans posted on social media..." [the scene of Yongin]

*This content was translated by AI.

Suwon Samsung's gatekeeper Kim Min-joon (26) announced a perfect revival after overcoming the pain of failing to be promoted last year. Kim Min-joon, who had his first opportunity to start this season to fill the gap of Kim Joon-hong (22), the main goalkeeper who was transferred to the U-23 national team, led Suwon to its fifth consecutive victory with a scoreless performance.

Suwon Samsung won 1-0 in an away match against Yongin FC in the fifth round of Hana Bank's K League 2 2026 at Mir Stadium in Yongin on the 28th.

Kim Min-joon was the main player in the victory. Kim Min-joon dived and hit Shin Jin-ho's sharp free kick in the 7th minute of the first half, and blocked the goal even in a critical one-on-one crisis with Yoo Dong-kyu in the second half.

Suwon manager Lee Jung-hyo also said at a press conference after the game, "Without Kim Min-joon, there would have been no five consecutive wins. I want to tell you that I won thanks to you," he said, giving high praise.

This performance was meaningful to Kim Min-joon, who suffered the bitterness of his promotion frustration with the penalty kick allowed in the first round of the promotion playoff (PO) against Jeju SK last year and the loss in the second round.

"It's basic to thank the fans, but I felt more sorry," Kim Min-joon, who met at the mixed zone after the game, recalled. "I felt so sorry that I didn't want to think about myself when I saw the team in a difficult situation due to my mistake at the time of the promotion failure."

Kim Min-joon, who continued to cry, said, "At that time, I was more stimulated by the social network service (SNS) because there was much more support than reprimand," adding, "Now we have to live up to that support to match the status of a big team called Suwon." I have a strong will to work harder and do well so that I don't feel sorry for my fans," he said with strength.

The game was Kim Min-joon's first scoreless performance since his transfer to Suwon. "It's really meaningful that it's my first scoreless run at Suwon," Kim Min-joon said. "Last year, there was never a scoreless run in my memory. I have to do better and I will continue to try and study to help the team and melt into coach Lee Jung-hyo's soccer," he said.

Regarding the opportunity that came as the main player Kim Joon-hong's transfer to the national team, he said, "I heard that the opportunity may come a day or two before the (U-23 national team) announcement." At that time, I started preparing with the feeling of 'I have to do it,' he explained.

He also shared a pleasant episode with his rival Kim Jun-hong. "I'm a pacifist, so I sincerely congratulated (Kim) Jun-hong for going to the national team," Kim Min-joon said, smiling and adding, "Before I left, I said, 'Please don't get hurt and do well, and Jun-hong also cheered me on, saying, 'You're preparing well.' "

He showed humility in that he was evaluated as stable in the build-up. "I'm not good enough, and I was just lucky today," Kim Min-joon said. "It's still a little difficult because the coach emphasized the goalkeeper's touch in detail. You should keep thinking in your head about the use of space or the movement of previewing touch points, which you have never done before. I'm trying and failing a lot and studying, but I think it will take a lot of effort to satisfy the director," he confessed.

When asked if the waiting time was difficult as a candidate goalkeeper, he gave a mature answer. Kim Min-joon said, "I don't get stressed because I have fun in the process of challenging myself. "I tend to find the fun of working hard enough to break my body to make up for what I lack," he said. "If it's a big team like Suwon, it's natural that there are more high-level goalkeepers. I also try to be a player worthy of that level," he stressed.

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*This content was translated by AI.