"The Reason Bayern Munich Signed Kim Min-jae..." Club Executive Speaks Directly

*This content was translated by AI.

Ruben Kasper, Marketing and Sales Director of the prestigious German club Bayern Munich, detailed the club's vision regarding its deep ties with Korea, expansion of its fanbase, and youth talent development. He specifically explained the background behind signing South Korea’s star center-back Kim Min-jae (31) and the resulting ripple effects, expressing special affection for the Korean market.

During a video interview with domestic reporters on the 28th, Kasper shared his impressions of his visit to Korea and outlined marketing strategies ahead of the friendly match against JejuSK scheduled for 8 p.m. on the 4th at Jeju World Cup Stadium.

The most eye-catching part was undoubtedly Kasper’s remarks concerning Kim Min-jae. He emphasized that Kim Min-jae was signed based purely on merit. Regarding the marketing impact and influence in the Asian market following Kim Min-jae's arrival, Kasper stated, "Regardless of which player is signed, the core criterion is always the player's skill and ability," adding, "We do not sign players primarily considering marketing or sales aspects."

Nevertheless, he expressed significant satisfaction with the virtuous cycle brought about by Kim Min-jae's joining. He said, "It is an undeniable fact that since the dynamic and powerful Kim Min-jae from Korea joined our club, our fanbase has grown rapidly," noting, "As the fan base has become deeper, commercial demand including jersey sales has increased significantly, and the club is making multi-faceted efforts to meet these fans' expectations."

He further highly evaluated South Korea's economic potential. Kasper added, "Based on Korea's solid economy, which shows higher growth than Germany, we aim to maximize fan satisfaction and strengthen the bond between the club and its fans even more."

He also expressed strong determination to build a sustained cooperation system with Korean youth football. Kasper stated, "Youth academies form the foundation of German football. We are well aware that Korea excels in youth development programs. Many Korean players are already active on the European stage. With Kim Min-jae, an excellent player, now at Munich, we greatly anticipate cooperation between both countries in youth talent development."

Especially mentioning a strategic partnership with K League 1's Jeju, he attached significance by stating, "Jeju is the first partner club in Asia."

Pointing out that Jeju's promising goalkeeper is currently at Munich completing its development program, he explained, "We have been collaborating since last year through exchanges with Jeju youth advisor Koo Ja-cheol and others. Regardless of Jeju's performance, cooperation on youth talent development will continue. This will greatly benefit both Korean and German football in the future."

He did not hide his expectations regarding the visit to Korea, which is being pursued again two years after 2024. Kasper said, "The interaction with Korean fans during our visit two years ago was a very positive experience. We confirmed tremendous marketing effects, such as a more than 25% surge in consumption of Korea-related content, and that impact continues to this day." He added, "We will not limit ourselves to one-off events but will continuously play the 'marketing piano' to promote Munich's value and expand our fanbase."

Explaining why Jeju was chosen as a stop on this pre-season tour, he said, "Jeju Island is located at the center of Asia with excellent location conditions, and visa-free entry allows numerous Asian fans to visit, making it the ideal destination."

Furthermore, Kasper stated, "We will conduct pre-season training and open training sessions in Jeju to show fans the true face of Munich. The top squad, including Manuel Neuer, Joshua Kimmich, Alessandro Pavlovic, Kim Min-jae, and even Luis Diaz, is heading to Jeju. We have great expectations for our upcoming visit to Jeju."

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*This content was translated by AI.