"Suwon promotion is deeply desired, but military enlistment is coming..." T.O.P's heartfelt words from Changwon [Changwon Field Report]

*This content was translated by AI.

Park Ji-won (26), whose enlistment during the season has been confirmed, has pledged his full commitment to Suwon Samsung until the very end. Knowing he must leave amid the team's promotion push, he is approaching every match with heightened urgency.

On the 18th, Suwon secured a 1-0 victory over Gyeongnam FC in an away match at the Changwon Football Center as part of the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 8.

In a moment of crisis for the team, a top-tier joker shone brightly. Following a goalless draw against Yongin FC on the 28th of last month, Suwon had struggled to score in consecutive matches against Cheongju FC and Gimpo FC, leaving them in a scoring drought. Park Ji-won, who came on as a substitute in the Gyeongnam match, scored a priceless winning goal in the 34th minute of the second half, securing three points for the team after three consecutive matches without a win.

Park Ji-won, who broke Suwon's scoring drought, said in the mixed zone after the match: "I am happy about the victory, but I believe we can show more, both as a team and individually." He added, "Coach Lee Jeong-hyo also emphasized in the locker room that we should not be satisfied with just winning. I will work harder to show fans our growth in every match."

Notably, Park Ji-won is facing enlistment in August, meaning he will not be able to stay with Suwon until the end of the season. Despite this, he stressed: "It is regrettable that I will be joining the military and cannot stay with the team until the season ends," but "I will do my best to contribute to the team until my enlistment. Suwon is such a strong team that any player can step in, and I believe my teammates will continue to perform well even after I leave."

Recently, opposing teams have employed tactics that push their defensive lines extremely deep, causing significant frustration for Suwon's attacking players. Park Ji-won stated: "Although the strikers are under considerable stress, overcoming this challenge is essential for improving our skills." He further affirmed: "There is no choice but to work harder through training and overcome these difficulties."

Despite this pressure, it is reported that the squad shares the value of growth emphasized by Coach Lee Jeong-hyo. Park Ji-won remarked: "The players are also trying to enjoy this process. It is a moment we must overcome no matter what." He added: "However, I believe we should not show such a match to the fans. The entire team is working hard to deliver even better performances in the future."

Regarding expectations that his speed, one of his key strengths, would open up new paths for the team, Park Ji-won commented: "We cannot win just because one player performs well. All 11 players must prepare with one heart and one mind." He concluded: "Since the team comes before individual achievements, we must all prepare thoroughly together."

When asked whether he envisions playing in the top division with Suwon after completing his military service, Park Ji-won calmly replied: "Saying we will definitely get promoted seems premature." He added: "I will simply focus on preparing well for the next match. After my discharge, I will prepare again according to the circumstances at that time."

Finally, Park Ji-won firmly stated: "I will think beyond Suwon's promotion and prepare well for the next match as well."

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*This content was translated by AI.