Basketball player Lee Hyun-jung, a key figure in leading the men's team to victory at the Nagoya Asian Games, left for the United States today (October 24) to continue his pursuit of the NBA stage.

He says he is ready to throw himself into the fierce competition and take some hits.

Lee entered the departure terminal with his mother, Sung Jung-a.

He generously signs autographs and takes photos with fans, creating lasting memories.

After winning the Asian Games gold medal, Lee previously traveled to the U.S. and then briefly returned to South Korea to handle administrative procedures and complete mandatory training for athletic personnel. Yesterday, which was his birthday, he attended a professional basketball game with Park Ji-hyun, a fellow same-age player competing in the WNBA.

Having shed countless drops of sweat through relentless training even while at home, Lee will join the training camp of the G League team affiliated with the Portland Trail Blazers on October 26 as he enters a fierce survival battle to advance to the NBA.

[Lee Hyun-jung : It feels like my basketball journey is just beginning. True to myself, I will fight even more desperately, throw myself into the challenge, and take the hits. I will return having grown that much more.]

(Video by Yoo Dong-hyuk | Video Editing by Ha Sung-won)