Manager Lee Jung-hyo's repeatedly praised "core of Suwon Samsung," Hong Jung-ho, who led the emotional promotion, says, "The reason I transferred... I am so happy" [Suwon on-site]

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Manager Lee Jung-hyo's repeatedly praised "core of Suwon Samsung," Hong Jung-ho, who led the emotional promotion, says, "The reason I transferred... I am so happy" [Suwon on-site]

Captain Hong Jung-ho (37), a veteran defender who quietly supported Suwon Samsung, finally smiled brightly as he led the team to direct promotion to K League 1 for the first time in three seasons.

On the 8th, at the Hana Bank K League 2 2026 Round 32 home match held at Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon defeated Yongin FC 2-0 and secured promotion to K League 1.

Hong Jung-ho, who donned the Suwon uniform this season, appeared in 21 league matches and served as a solid pillar of the defense. After playing as a confirmed starter early in the season, his playing time decreased somewhat due to injury, but Hong Jung-ho demonstrated unwavering leadership from the bench and locker room, firmly anchoring the team's center.

In particular, Suwon's young players consistently cited Hong Jung-ho's dedicated leadership first whenever asked about team culture, and Manager Lee Jung-hyo has also expressed gratitude at every press conference, stating, "The team became solid because Hong Jung-ho was there."

Hong Jung-ho, who stayed on the bench during the match against Yongin, shared his overflowing feelings in the mixed zone after the game. "The players worked hard, but I first want to express my gratitude to the fans who quietly endured a difficult three years," he said. "Just as today, whether at home or away, it was because the fans always filled the stands that we could reach this day. We have secured promotion, but the championship remains. Next week, the squad will unite with one heart and definitely repay the fans with the championship trophy."

Regarding Manager Lee Jung-hyo's consistent praise of him as the primary contributor to team culture, Hong Jung-ho displayed his characteristic humility. "The manager wraps things up so nicely that I don't know what to do," Hong said. "It seems they viewed favorably not that I did something particularly well, but that whether on the field or in daily life, I tried to tackle everything together as a team." He added, "Just like today's match, even when our performance was somewhat sluggish in the first half, the players did not distrust each other; they trusted and relied on one another, fighting as one team. In particular, players who could not take the field did not drift apart but stayed within the team, cheering loudly. That is the biggest change for our Suwon this season."

For Hong Jung-ho, who had lifted numerous championship trophies through the top stage of K League 1, the German Bundesliga, and national team duty, competing in the second division and challenging for promotion was an unfamiliar journey he had never experienced in his career. "The biggest reason I transferred to Suwon was exactly this," Hong began. "I desperately needed a new justification and clear motivation."

He continued, "Manager Lee Jung-hyo newly took charge, and there were clear goals of promotion and winning the championship, so I decided to join Suwon to take on this challenge together. I am very happy now, but I am holding back my emotions a bit. After the match ended, I saw players who had stayed with the team for a long time and fans in the stands singing chants and shedding tears, which stirred my own emotions. However, since the season is not completely over yet, I want to fully enjoy it together after we secure the championship next week."

Regarding facing his former club Jeonbuk Hyundai as an opponent on the K League 1 stage next season, he revealed a special sentiment. "In fact, when I left Jeonbuk, I did not get the chance to properly greet the Jeonbuk fans, and that has remained heavily on my mind until now," Hong said. "If we face Jeonbuk in K League 1 next year, what I look forward to and am excited about most is having the opportunity to bow my head and properly greet the Jeonbuk fans, more than the match result itself."

Ahead of his return to K League 1, he did not forget to offer realistic advice to his younger juniors. "If today's flow of play had been against a strong team in K League 1, it would have been truly difficult," Hong said. "We played under great pressure and burden due to the results of top-tier teams, but I am very proud and impressed that our young players endured well and achieved promotion." He added, "Manager Lee Jung-hyo said after today's match that 'our transition speed in attack and defense is at the highest level in K League 2,' and I fully agree. However, since we need to achieve much more in K League 1, we must prepare thoroughly during the off-season."

He also cautiously opened up about the squad reinforcement needed for competitiveness in K League 1. "It is a delicate matter for me to speak on, but currently Suwon is very young overall," Hong said. "To endure on the K League 1 stage, we definitely need more veteran players who can firmly anchor the center. Veterans like Go Seung-beom and Song Ju-hoon are holding up the team, but compared to that, the proportion of young players is very high. If resources are added to support the team so it does not waver in attack or defense, it will become a much better team."

Looking back on his joining Suwon before the season, Hong Jung-ho said, "Manager Lee Jung-hyo's phone call was decisive, but I cannot forget the moment when I first visited the club office after deciding to join and everyone handed me flowers to welcome me. Even though I am a veteran of no small age, when they sincerely told me 'we are truly grateful you came,' I resolved that I must absolutely prove it with my skills on the ground." He added, "I am truly fortunate and happy that I could repay them in this way this season. I also sincerely thank President Kang Woo-young for his full support without reservation."

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*This content was translated by AI.View Original