The first time he became my hero was when I was a high school student. In 2002, the Korean national soccer team unbelievably reached the semi-finals cheering Koreans in despair and especially when the unnamed soccer player touched my heart with unbelievably sincere play on ground, I was curious who was the player. Then, I was able to know that his name was Ji-Sung Park and also that before the 2002 Worldcup, he was completely away from the public attention but he definitely grabbed the public’s attention after the 2002 Worldcup. Awaken to find himself famous and actually he deserved it.
However, it was only the beginning of his great career. Soon after Park’s national team manager Guus Hiddink moved back to the Netherlands to manage PSV Eindhoven, Park followed him to the Dutch side a year later. But his many fans(including me) doubted that prospect thinking it would be hard to adapt to European league style, so they were wary of getting excited about his challenge. Unlike the fans’ prospect, he tried to show that an Asian player could get a success in a European soccer league with his strong point, loyalness, sincere play and humble attitude. Especially after PSV reached the semi-finals of the 2004–05 UEFA Champions League, his talents were recognized ‘again’ by Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson who was one of the most famous football manager in the world. Park was able to play anywhere across the midfield and was noted for his exceptional fitness level, discipline, work ethic and off-the-ball movement.
I clearly remember the moment that the rumor that Park could be the first Korean Premier League Soccer player spreaded. People got afraid of getting excitement again, even some made some sarcastic comments about him. But I strongly believed that he could make it again. In the end, the Manchester United offered him a formal contract in July 2005 and he decided to begin a fresh start in the new team. He became the first Korean premier leaguer of all time!
At that time the news praising him was covered all day, I joined the army. I really missed because I knew I would be away from the society for two years. But I could hear the news about him. The news such as making a goal or an assist was really great encouragement to me during the period of military service. Whenever I heard the good news about Park, it was like I was getting power from his energetic plays in the British league. He was such a proudness of Koreans and compared to him, my hardship was nothing. That was that.
Anyway, since then, Park has won the Premier League four times and has also won the UEFA Champions League and the FIFA Club World Cup. Aside from his club career, unfortunately he recently retired from the Korean national soccer team to focus on his club career, but I believe his achievements are not finished yet.
As I get older and older, I know he gets older and older too. It is sad to imagine that I can’t watch his play soon. However, he will be still in my heart as a hero. I believe it.