Gangwon FC re-signed CEO Kim Byung-ji before the end of the 2024 season.

Gangwon recognized the achievements it has made since the 2023 season, when CEO Kim served as the team's representative.

Gangwon has been growing into a club that receives great attention since the 2023 season, when CEO Kim took charge of the team. This can be clearly seen in Gangwon's change in average spectators. In particular, it is noteworthy that the number of spectators has increased significantly since the 2023 season, when the team confirmed its remaining in the K League 1 through the promotion and playoffs.

CEO Kim, who received Gangwon's offer to renew his contract, did not have concerns.

Kim also had other options.

I listened to CEO Kim's story of continuing his challenge in Gangwon.

Q: When I heard about CEO Kim Byung-ji's renewal of contract, I thought about this, too. In reality, it may be difficult for Gangwon to achieve the same result as the 2024 season. It was the best performance ever for the team. Were you pressured to sign a contract with Gangwon.

Since I came here as CEO of Gangwon Province, there have been many talks (laughs). I would be lying if I didn't have any concerns after getting offered to renew my contract. The most important thing was what I should do in the future. The immediate answer was "on site." I concluded that there is no good option for Gangwon Province as long as solid motivation and respect for each other are guaranteed when working in the field.

"I didn't think much about my salary. Money always follows me when I sweat and produce results. I have felt this since I was a player. Our annual salary is based on the postpaid system. Players can earn high salaries only when they prove it on the field. No other club in the world pays a large annual salary to players who have shown poor performance.
I learned that even though I run several businesses, money follows me as much as I work hard. I also have a dream that I want to contribute to Gangwon's growth into a better team than it is now. I see the growth and success of Gangwon as my growth and success. Isn't that the case in 2023 and 2024 just by looking at the results? I have grown into a better manager in Gangwon. I have achieved results.

I have confidence and confidence that I can do better. We have confirmed that Gangwon is a team that can make long-term plans and move forward. We will strengthen our capabilities and make a stronger club. It can be said that performance goes up and down. However, a club can continue to grow without being swayed under any difficulties. It is difficult to tell you the exact timing right now, but I will make a historic year beyond the 2024 season within my tenure. It is all in our plans.

Q. Kim Byung-ji has also taken the lead in discovering young players such as Yang Min-hyuk and Shin Min-ha who have endless potential for growth. Kim Byung-ji's "eye for players" seems to be unique as well. What do you pay attention to the most when looking at players.

There are players who try to solve the game wisely. There are players who show movements that make people think, "That's smart." It's hard to explain, but I think this is the sense. You don't see a player just once. You watch a lot of games. Especially when you look at how he plays against a team that is stronger than his team, you see how much growth he has.

Q. Let's go back to the days of CEO Kim Byung-ji. It was when I played for FC Seoul. You were with Lee Chung-yong and Ki Sung-yueng, who were Korea's top prospects at the time. Park Chu-young was with you, too. How do you compare Yang Min-hyuk with the players then.

"They all have different styles (laughs). Ki has different positions. Ki is a midfielder. Lee Chung-yong and Yang Min-hyuk have similar positions as strikers. Ki Sung-yong read the flow of the game in the midfield and displayed excellent talent in connecting the ball and the number of times. Lee had the best sense of play among the players he had ever seen. He was able to move at the speed of the ball and was excellent from an early age.

Park Chu-young was able to solve the problem by himself. He was a player who could drive the ball in and score by himself. I think Yang Min-hyuk is excellent at creating chances to score when he catches the ball. He also has the ability to solve problems. What is clear is that all players who show such talent and grit have succeeded from an early age. I'm sure Yang Min-hyuk will do the same.

Q: Players who have shown exceptional talent since their teenage years don't necessarily make it 100 percent. Do you have anything in common that stood out from an early age and achieved great success.

Meet a good leader. Players who stand out from an early age are ready for challenges and adventures. However, leaders can be different. Many leaders want safe choices. What kind of leaders they meet and what kind of environment they play soccer in has a huge impact on young players' growth.

Q: Given the reality of the K-League, it is also true that it is difficult to give young players a chance. Three of the 12 K-League 1 teams can be demoted. Jeju United coach Kim Hak-beom and Daejeon Hana Citizen coach Hwang Sun-hong said after confirming their stay in the K-League 1 this season, "We need to reorganize the promotion system."

The federation said, "There is only an 8 percent chance of falling to the K-League 2." It is not a matter of numbers. Why did Jeonbuk Hyundai coach change? For the first time, it failed to finish in the top four. It was in the Final B and dropped to the relegation zone. Would it have been different if a team like Ulsan HD or FC Seoul were in such a situation? The current K-League 1 is on the verge of relegation if it fails to finish in the top six.

According to the federation's data, only automatic relegation is mentioned. Only the lowest ranking teams will be eliminated. However, all six teams in the Final B are suffering from relegation. There is no way to play a good game. Even before we go into the final round, we try our best to survive. After May, we have no choice but to focus on winning soccer. We have to avoid relegation.

Another thing is that they are implementing the U-22 policy to raise young players. But why, are you maintaining an ecosystem where you have no choice but to focus on surviving somehow? If you have to raise a boy, you have to create an environment where they can play. K-League 1 coaches will live only today. One year left until the contract is signed

Q. In the soccer world, there is a claim that the number of K League 1 teams should increase again.

"K-League is growing in popularity. We need to increase it as quickly as possible. Will teams that moved from the K-League 2 to the K-League 1 cut their annual budgets? Absolutely not. We will increase our budget more. More teams will invest, which will lead to more investment. On the contrary, if any team is demoted, it will inevitably result in massive budget cuts. We need to reduce the risk of relegation and create an environment where we can make better soccer and make more profit.

Q. Let's talk about Gangwon again. Gangwon uses two of its home stadiums. They are Chuncheon Songam Sports Town and Gangneung Sports Complex. Gangwon has a clubhouse in Gangneung. As a result, playing in Chuncheon leads to a longer travel distance than the away team. Gangwon also drew more spectators in Gangneung. Isn't it helpful for the team to develop by settling in Gangneung.

Gangwon is a provincial team. The most important thing that the owner emphasized to me is harmony among the residents. I have to follow that direction because the owner puts the most importance on harmony among the residents. It's my role to do my best to help the residents harmonize. The same goes for other members. I think it's right to do my best in the role given to harmonize the residents. If I can't follow the owner's idea, I have to start or take over the soccer team. At my own expense (laughs).

Q. In order for a professional soccer team to establish and implement long-term plans, high-ranking teams need to lead the team for a long time. It is true that high-ranking teams change frequently in the K-League except for Ulsan or Daegu FC. How do you think we should resolve this issue.

I'm also agonizing over this. I heard that this is the first time that Kangwon has been reappointed as a representative. It gives me a greater sense of responsibility and responsibility. However, what is more important than leading a team for a long time is to do well. A person who is good at work does it for a long time. If I fail to grow my team next year, I will have no choice but to quit. Players are not the only professionals. All members of professional sports are professionals. We should talk about achievements as if we are professionals.

I think so, too. Those who have been with a professional soccer team for the longest period of time are usually in the secretariat. If the secretariat builds a system that develops gradually according to the long-term plans of the club, there will be no problem no matter who comes to the top ranks. In addition, I think we should pay more attention to strengthening the capabilities of our employees than we do now. Building a system that moves the team in a way that can develop. This is the most important thing. 메이저사이트

Q. I have been involved in soccer all my life. Do you still like soccer.

I often talk to my wife about this (laughs). She loves soccer so much that she became a player. That's why I remain in the soccer field after retirement. That's why I say "thank you" first. I keep making money by doing what I like. I can run many businesses because of soccer. It was because of soccer that I was able to start a family and raise three children. To me, soccer is both a dream and a grateful existence.

Q. What is CEO Kim Byung-ji's dream.

My dream hasn't changed. I'm still the owner of the club. The CEO runs a club, but he is also an employee who earns a salary. The owner runs the club with his own money. I want to make a lot of money and run my own club someday.

Q: Even though you are not a professional player, more and more people are dreaming of becoming an administrator and a manager of a club. Do you have any advice for such young people to prepare for this.

There are a lot of events these days. There are not only soccer fields and baseball stadiums, but also concert halls, department stores, and large supermarkets. I really want you to experience such events. The event includes all industries such as promotion, marketing, and distribution. With that kind of experience for about a year, you will have the ability to proceed with any event without any problems.

There is something I often say to the employees of the home game business team. I told them, "With one year here, I will be able to do the event perfectly no matter what job I go to." One more tip: I hope you gain a variety of experience. Professional soccer team employees are responsible for various tasks such as product development, business, home game management, and media response.

The professional soccer team also has team management and support. Just because you say, "I like the team that manages the team," you can't just do it with that. Even after joining a professional soccer team, you need to have various experiences and skills to become a representative. Not long ago, Young-pyo Lee said that. Young-pyo said, "A former player should not be administered."

I'd say differently. If a former player is in charge of administration or management, he says, "We have to do better no matter what." We have experience as players. We know better than anyone how a central team of professional football is run and run. Then we have to do better.