South Korea's Hong rings in changes
- by Soccer America , May 8, 2014
Hong, who played for MLS's LA Galaxy in 2003-04, picked just one player older than 30, Kwak Tae-hwi, who is based in Saudi Arabia. The South Korea squad also includes nine players from European clubs, four who play in Japan and three from clubs in China.
The most controversial selection was that of Park Chu-young, who has made one six-minute appearance in three seasons since joining Arsenal. Park, one of the five holdovers from 2010 when South Korea reached the second round, played all of 61 minutes this season on loan to Watford.
World Cup 2014 Squads:
Bosnia-Herzegovina (24)
Brazil (23)
Honduras (23)
Nigeria (30)
"Among Korean forwards, I couldn't find another attacker to replace Park," Hong said. "I have thought long and hard about this selection and decided on the final list just last night."
World Cup 2014: Warmup Schedule
South Korea will play a friendly against Tunisia at home on May 28 and then head to Florida for a training camp that will end with a warm-up game against Ghana on June 9 at Miami's Sun Life Stadium.
South Korea Roster (23 players):
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryeong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Horang-i), Lee Bom-young (Busan I'Park)
Defenders: Kim Jin-soo (Albirex Niigata, JPN), Yun Suk-young (Queens Park Rangers/ENG), Kim Young-kwon (Guangzhou Evergrande/CHN), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima/JPN), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg/GER), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal/RSA), Lee Yong (Ulsan Horang-i), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol/JPN).
Midfielders: Ki Seung-yeung (Sunderland/ENG), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan/CHN), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol/JPN), Park Jung-woo (Guangzhou R&F/CHN), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen/GER), Kim Bo-kyoung (Cardiff City/WAL), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers/ENG), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg/GER).
Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz/GER), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal/ENG), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Horang-i).
