'Curse of Relocation' Strikes Again: Bucheon Defeated by Jeju, Coach Lee Young-min Sighs, "I Apologize to the Fans" [Bucheon Field]

*This content was translated by AI.

BucheonFC coach Lee Young-min, who bowed his head once again to Jeju SK, entangled in the 'curse of relocation,' now bowed his head to the fans.

Coach Lee Young-min attended a press conference immediately after the 0-1 home defeat against Jeju in the 12th round of the Hana Bank K League 1 2026, held at 2 p.m. on the 5th at Bucheon Stadium. He said, "As a coach who lost in what is arguably the most important and meaningful match in the league, I feel sorry to the fans."

The rivalry between the two teams stems from the past when the SK football team, which was based in Bucheon, relocated to Jeju, and Bucheon established a civic club centered around its supporters, creating a 'curse of relocation.'

Coach Lee Young-min also vowed to win before the match, stating, "We must achieve a good result to ease the fans' grievances, even a little." Prior to the match, Bucheon supporters hung banners and scrolls condemning Jeju's past relocation.

However, Bucheon managed only a disappointing performance throughout the first half, and the foreign players who came on as substitutes in the second half failed to make a significant impact, unable to turn the tide. Ultimately, after conceding a painful opening goal to Nam Tae-hee in the 30th minute of the second half, they could not overcome it and bowed their heads.

Coach Lee Young-min said, "You may think this is an excuse, but it is important to prevent recurrence as many players have returned from injury. This was a match prepared with many considerations, including those factors."

He continued, "The players performed well in the first half. However, the condition of the substitute players in the second half was actually poor. In K League 1, there are many midweek matches. We must overcome such challenges, and the staff must also pay close attention to condition management. It will get even hotter, so we need to make improvements. This is one of the key points I must address as a coach."

With this defeat, Bucheon failed to maintain the momentum from their previous victory against FC Anyang and missed their chance for their first consecutive wins of the season. Their points total stands at 13 (3 wins, 4 draws, 5 losses), dropping them to 11th place in the standings.

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*This content was translated by AI.