Post Match | Jeonbuk Hyundai goalkeeper Kim Jeonghoon "Hard efforts paid off after a disastrous start to the season"

Jeonbuk Hyundai walked away with a vital three points at Daegu through the spot kick from Gustavo in the 89th minute and kept their momentum alive in Round 34 of the 2023 Hana 1Q K League 1 campaign. This 2-1 win puts them to continue chasing the third-placed Gwangju in the league. Daegu FC correspondent Muyeol Jung heard from Jeonbuk's shot stopper Kim Jeonghoon in the press conference at DGB Daegu Bank Park. 

How are you feeling after today's game?

"I never thought it would be an easy game coming to Daegu today. However, we had all  the boys returned except for the injured Rafael, so we prepared to do well in the first game of the Final A with the goal of winning all five. I am happy to win."

You made a howler in your debut game at the season opener at Ulsan, but today you are here being interviewed as the Man of the Match. How does it feel like?

"It was a pity that I made such a huge mistake in my Jeonbuk debut at the Hyudai Derby and we lost the game because of it. I felt something like guilt after that.  However, by then I thought myself that since the season had just begun, I'd need to try hard until the end of the season and then my performance to be evaluated again. I'm still not good enough by any standard, but I think it's a good thing that I did my best on the field." 

You made seven crucial stops today. Which one of those is particularly difficult to make?

"The last shot by Kim Jin-hyuk was the most. I think I was able to make that save today because my fellow players blocked the angle well and I was prepared for that path." 

You went to the Asian Games with South Korea's U24 Team with your military duty already completed but didn't feature at all. How did you watch the team's campaign?

"Only me and another goalkeeper Lee Kwang-yeon went to the Asian Games with the military service resolved. So the two of us were under more pressure than the others (in case our mistake could cost them). We were even more careful of our words and behaviours in front of others. I didn't want to show any misbehaviours during training either. So I communicated a lot with the staff to help the team in a good way. Looking back, I think it's really fortunate that we won the gold medal as a one-team."

"Also, I'm very grateful that I got the opportunity to represent the country in the Asian Games as well as the team preparing for the Olympics. It was an honour to compete with other colleagues and go to the youth national team. Although I felt a little bit gutted for not having a chance to play, I felt like I was growing day by day with those experiences "

What's Jeonbuk's goal for the remaining season?

"League-wise, we are pushing hard to secure a third place for ACL place next season. And we also are in the FA Cup semi-final and the Champions League. We should prepare well."