Min Seong-ho's Squad 'Captain' Lee Ki-hyuk: "No Room for Complacency"

The South Korean under-23 (U-23) men's national football team, aiming for their fourth consecutive Asian Games title, had faced concerns over the absence of a standout "star player" to anchor the team single-handedly, unlike past tournaments featuring players like Son Heung-min (LAFC) or Lee Kang-in (Atletico Madrid).

However, the player stepping up to fill that exact role in this tournament is "wildcard" (players over the age of 24) Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC).

As captain, Lee Ki-hyuk is not only orchestrating both offense and defense in the midfield, but he is also playing a vital role as a reliable leader and older brother, keeping the squad grounded both on and off the pitch.

Lee Ki-hyuk played the full match today in the second Group D fixture of the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games men's football tournament against Saudi Arabia, held at the Mizuho Park Rugby Stadium in Nagoya, Japan, contributing to the team's 2-0 victory.

Despite feeling pain after falling during a one-on-one duel in the 27th minute of the first half, he showed strong responsibility and guarded the pitch until the end.

Speaking to reporters in the mixed zone after the match, Lee Ki-hyuk said, "The coach placed me in the defensive midfield position because the team needed someone to anchor the center, and after getting hurt in the first half, my concentration slipped a bit. In moments like that, I need to hold the center even firmer and lead by example so the players can stay focused," expressing his sense of responsibility.

Regarding the extent of his injury, he explained, "It hurt a bit because I took two direct impacts, but it was manageable enough to push through, so I finished well."

Having suffered the bitter taste of a group-stage exit at the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America despite being a surprise selection and playing in all three group matches, Lee Ki-hyuk's determination and focus heading into this tournament are bound to be exceptional.

He shared, "Sometimes things do not go as planned on the pitch, but solutions emerge when the players communicate and drive the game together. The message I emphasize most to my teammates is 'let's not be too impatient.'"

He added, "In a tournament like this, I believe that as long as you can pull off the result, the process matters less. Even if things don't go according to plan, we have the ability to subdue our opponents if we wait. I believed that opportunities would definitely come."

Having advanced to the quarterfinals as group winners, South Korea will avoid Group C runners-up Uzbekistan—who showed formidable firepower with 7 goals and 1 conceded in two group matches—and instead square off against Group C winners Vietnam.

The quarterfinal match will take place on September 25 at the same stadium.

Lee Ki-hyuk expressed his determination, saying, "Vietnam is also a team advancing with the bitterness of a previous defeat, so they will come out fierce. I will hold the center firmly in the middle to ensure our players harbor no complacency whatsoever."

He confidently added, "Right after the match, I clearly conveyed the mindset for preparing for the quarterfinals to my teammates. If our will to defeat Vietnam is stronger, we will undoubtedly bring home the victory."

Meanwhile, Lee Ki-hyuk's club teammate, defender Minha (Gangwon FC), also emphasized that the team has grown stronger by overcoming crises, signaling a resolute will to win the upcoming tournament stage.

Minha broke the frustrating 0-0 deadlock by netting a goal in the 22nd minute of the second half.

From a free-kick situation, Minha connected with a high-arching cross delivered by Umji with a towering header, precisely piercing the right corner of the net.

With the offensive bottleneck broken, South Korea extended their lead to 2-0 just two minutes later with an additional goal by Kim Myung-jun, sealing the match.

Reflecting on the match afterward, Minha said, "The ball came my way several times during set-piece situations in the first half, and it was disappointing that I couldn't capitalize on those chances. In the locker room at halftime, I actively communicated with Jisung, who handles our kicks, specifically detailing how I wanted the balls delivered, which led to the goal."

He further noted, "We talked a lot with our teammates about how when things aren't going well and mistakes happen, we must fight together as a team rather than as individuals. If anything, those crises became the catalyst that brought the players together as one."

(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.