Lee Hak-min (33) of South Chungcheong Province Asan in the K-League 2 aimed to advance to the K-League 1.
Chungnam Asan will play the first round of K League 1 Daegu FC and Hana Bank’s K League Promotion Playoff (PO) 2024 at Cheonan Stadium at 7 p.m. on the 28th.
After that, on the 1st of next month, the venue will be moved to DGB Daegu Bank Park, home of Daegu, and the second round of PO will be held.
Accordingly, Asan, Chungnam, conducted mini-off-season training in warm areas from the 18th to the 25th.
Chungnam Asan finished second in Hana Bank’s K League 2 2024 this season.
Although it did not receive much attention before the opening, it achieved its highest performance (2nd place) since its foundation and the club’s first advance to the promotion PO.
Not only foreign players but also all players including “captain” Park Se-jik have become one under the leadership of Kim Hyun-suk. Side defender Lee Hak-min, who has been serving as vice captain for three consecutive years, has also contributed significantly.
Lee Hak-min scored four goals in 28 matches in the league this season, contributing significantly to his team’s second place in the league. He showed off his deep presence in various fields of offense and defense thanks to his side defense resources.
As a result, Hana Bank was nominated for the K League 2 Best Eleven right-side defender at the K League 2024 Awards.
He has a lot of experience. When he was a member of Seongnam FC, he contributed to promotion in 2018.
“In order to advance, we need to unite well and go in the direction we want to go,” Lee Hak-min said in a recent phone call with Newsis. “We also need to follow luck,” Lee said. “Seongnam at the time and Asan in South Chungcheong Province have similar team atmosphere.”
“During the recent off-season training, the coach said a lot of things to ease the burden on the players, such as ‘Let’s not feel pressured’ and ‘Let’s have fun,'” he said. “(Nevertheless), the coach motivates us a lot by saying, ‘We are challengers’ and ‘Wouldn’t it be a good experience to meet once?'” he said.
Not only the team’s first advance to the first division, but also Lee Hak-min is desperate to be promoted.
He contributed to promotion to the first division when he was in Seongnam, but he couldn’t play in K League 1 together.
As a member of Gyeongnam FC in the 2014 season, he played in the K League 1 in the 2017 season while wearing the Incheon United uniform, but only 26 games have been played.
Beyond the side defenders representing K League 2, there is a desire to win the first division.
Lee Hak-min said, “Of course I play for the team, but I’m a little thirsty (for the first division, personally). If I feel like I’m going to play (in the first division), I come down (to the second division) and if I feel like I’m going to play again, I come down (to the second division),” he said.
“That’s why I want to play with Asan in South Chungcheong Province (who is writing history). If I get promoted, it will be a good year for my career as well. As I have the opportunity, I will play nonstop,” he said.
In addition, Lee Hak-min thanked his fans for supporting him when he was unable to play due to injury and his family for silently supporting him.
Lee Hak-min said, “There have been many twists and turns in coming this far, and whenever we do, there are fans who have supported us to the end. I want to take this opportunity to say thank you so much.” 스포츠토토
“There were also fans who cheered for me when I couldn’t play due to injury, saying, ‘I want to come back soon.’ It was really touching. Thanks to them, I was able to come back quickly, and I was able to come back and play harder,” he said.
“It’s not easy to live as a family of players. My wife saw my baby alone and took care of me. I want to get promoted not only for my fans but also for my family,” he said.