[On-site Interview] 'Gangwon's youngest semi-pro' Choi Jae-hyeok's bold dream... "I want to become a full-back remembered in Korea"

*This content was translated by AI.

Choi Jae-hyeok (17), who plays for Gangneung Jeil High, the U-18 team under Gangwon FC, is the youngest player in the club's history to sign a semi-pro contract. He stated his bold ambition: "I want to be the first player that comes to mind when 'full-back' is mentioned in South Korea."

Recently, Choi Jae-hyeok met with StarNews at Gangneung High1 Resort Arena and discussed his goals for the professional stage and his growth process.

Gangwon FC announced in April that it had signed a semi-pro contract with defender Choi Jae-hyeok. As a result, Choi Jae-hyeok has become the youngest player in Gangwon's history to sign a semi-pro contract. This is also the first time Gangwon has signed a semi-pro contract with a high school sophomore.

It is also noteworthy that he has steadily grown within Gangwon's youth system and is now on the verge of entering the professional stage. Choi Jae-hyeok, who graduated from Ojin Middle School, which operates as Gangwon's U-15 team, enrolled in Gangneung Jeil High and continued to grow steadily before finally signing a semi-pro contract with Gangwon. Having grown up wearing Gangwon's jersey since middle school, this 'local prospect' has set a new milestone as the club's youngest-ever semi-pro player.

Choi Jae-hyeok said, "It still doesn't fully feel real that I signed the first semi-pro contract in the club's history," and added, "Since I was given such a great opportunity, I want to prepare even better so I can repay those expectations."

He continued, "I don't think I signed this contract because I am superior or particularly talented compared to other players. It seems that good results came my way because I worked diligently and consistently."

Choi Jae-hyeok has grown within Gangwon's youth system since middle school. As a result, his affection and sense of responsibility toward the club are exceptional. Choi Jae-hyeok stated, "Since I have been with Gangwon since middle school, my affection for them is definitely stronger than for any other team," and added, "Rather than becoming complacent because people expect much from me, I believe I need to work harder to grow in line with those expectations."

There are also seniors who have walked a successful path through Gangneung Jeil High and Gangwon FC. Yang Hyun-joon and Yang Min-hyuk are prime examples. Both players debuted professionally while wearing Gangwon's jersey after attending Gangneung Jeil High, showcased outstanding performances from a young age, and then moved to overseas leagues. Yang Hyun-joon plays for the prestigious Scottish club Celtic FC, while Yang Min-hyuk plays for Tottenham in England.

Choi Jae-hyeok said, "The player I admire most is senior Yang Min-hyuk," and added, "I admire how he showed outstanding performances at a young age and immediately moved to the overseas stage."

He continued, "While I also have the goal of moving abroad, before that, I want to become a player who helps Gangwon like Hyung-minhyuk did."

Choi Jae-hyeok is a versatile defender capable of playing both as a full-back and center-back. Originally a center-back, he expanded his positional range to full-back to leverage his strength in actively participating in attacks. Regarding his playing style, he introduced himself: "My strengths are that I advance aggressively during offensive situations and do not shy away from physical challenges when defending."

However, the transition process was not smooth from the beginning. Choi Jae-hyeok noted, "Since I naturally have a strong attacking inclination, switching to full-back itself was not particularly difficult," but added, "The amount of activity required as a full-back is much greater than as a center-back. The challenge was that I had to approach physical conditioning and match management differently."

To adapt to the new position, he consistently watched match videos of top-tier full-backs from overseas. He also actively sought advice from coaches and senior players. He said, "I have watched many videos of foreign full-backs and continued to ask questions and learn from coaches and others who could help me."

In particular, he referenced the play of Kyle Walker, a defender who has represented England's national team. Choi Jae-hyeok explained, "I have watched Kyle Walker's videos for a long time. He actively participates in attacks while remaining stable in defensive situations. His defensive abilities are excellent, and I believe there is much to learn from him."

In Gangwon's first team, he has been closely observing Lee Ki-hyuk's play. He said, "I have watched Lee Ki-hyuk's plays a lot, especially in defensive aspects, and am learning from them."

He also coldly assessed areas that need improvement alongside his strengths. Given his strong attacking inclination, he sometimes misses details during defensive processes, according to Choi Jae-hyeok's evaluation. He stated, "My aggressive style is my strength, but I sometimes miss fine details in defensive situations. I must quickly address these shortcomings and continue to develop."

He has also received significant help from Coach Kim Jung-woo, who took over as head coach of Gangneung Jeil High in May and is a former South Korean national team player. Choi Jae-hyeok said, "Although Coach Kim Jung-woo hasn't been with us for long, he always gives me many good words," and added, "Whenever he has time, he calls me aside to offer advice on how to survive on the professional stage. I am receiving a lot of help."

His experience with the Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team also helped Choi Jae-hyeok grow to the next level. In 2023, Choi Jae-hyeok was selected for the U-16 national team and participated in the Peace Cup in China. During that tournament, where South Korea secured a perfect victory, he played a key role as part of the defensive line. Since then, until 2024, he has consistently appeared in Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team matches to accumulate experience.

He reflected, "When I first joined the Yeon Ryeong-byeol (CEO) team, I was very nervous due to the pressure of international competitions," and added, "Even my usual plays didn't come out properly, which made things difficult."

He continued, "As I gained experience, I stopped feeling as nervous in big matches as before," and said, "I believe I have developed significantly because I can now show my true play without being swayed by the atmosphere."

Friends of his age who debuted professionally are also providing good stimulation. An Ju-wan of Seoul E-Land in K League 2 is a prime example. Choi Jae-hyeok said, "Friends like An Ju-wan have already debuted professionally," and added, "I also want to debut soon and show good performances in front of fans."

However, he does not intend to be overly fixated on the timing of his debut. He is well aware that becoming too impatient could prevent him from showcasing his strengths properly. He stated, "I would like to debut within this year, but if I become too impatient, I don't think my play will come out," and added, "Rather than thinking I must debut as quickly as possible, I believe that if I prepare well, opportunities will naturally follow."

Gangwon's recent good performance is also a strong motivation for Choi Jae-hyeok. He said, "Since the team is performing well, I feel even more eager to debut professionally," and emphasized, "As a member of Gangwon FC, I want to directly contribute to the team achieving good results in the future."

His ultimate goal is clear: to grow beyond simply debuting on the professional stage into becoming a full-back who represents South Korean football. Choi Jae-hyeok firmly stated, "I want to be the player most remembered when 'full-back' is mentioned in South Korea."

He continued, "I hope that by watching me, other players can feel something and develop," and pledged, "I will work harder to grow into a player who serves as an example for others."

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*This content was translated by AI.