Recently, concerns surrounding Korean football have been unceasing. Beyond merely deteriorating performance, it's widely analyzed that there are deep-rooted structural issues within our football system now coming to the fore. Over-reliance on star players, lack of tactical preparation across teams, and the absence of a long-term football philosophy are identified as core factors darkening the future of Korean football. These issues act in concert, starkly revealing the current vulnerabilities in Korean football.
From a tactical perspective, Korean football has long relied heavily on the individual prowess of certain players. The presence of world-class star players like Son Heung-min undoubtedly bolsters the team, but the tendency to depend entirely on them for offense undermines the team’s overall tactical flexibility. Opposing teams find it easier to predict our attacking patterns and can effectively neutralize Korea’s offensive capabilities by focusing on marking just the star players. This clearly exposes the lack of tactical diversity. Having limited scoring routes is a critical weakness in modern football. In fact, the statistic that a Korean national team player scored multiple goals only as recently as the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar underscores this star-dependence.
Additionally, the lack of tactical preparation across the team is considered a chronic issue in Korean football. In watching matches, it is often difficult to see custom tactics based on meticulous analysis of opponents or organic tactical changes responding to evolving game situations. This leads to predictable play, offering opponents a way to exploit, often resulting in lackluster defeats in critical matches. The imbalance between offense and defense and tactical absence demonstrated by the U23 team has been central to criticisms. The director admitting “there seems to be no standout strengths” and acknowledging, “I made a tactical mistake” bears witness to the seriousness of the issue. Errors in build-up passes or weakened aggression in defense could be attributed to inadequate foundational tactical training.
Furthermore, the long-term lack of philosophical direction in Korean football is the most pressing concern. Football philosophy extends beyond just a specific manager’s tactics, encompassing a broad vision that spans consistent play style, training methodologies, and criteria for player selection from youth development to the adult national team. The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced a technical philosophy dubbed 'MIK (Made In Korea)', aiming for 'fast, brave, and leading football', yet criticisms remain about the lack of field consensus and practical application. The absence of philosophy forces a short-term achievement mindset, frequent managerial changes, and inconsistent squad management, ultimately causing Korean football to lose its unique identity. Compared to Japan, where youth football has steadily progressed with long-term and consistent strategies, Korea noticeably struggles with age-group team management and performance enhancement.
These issues clearly highlight the structural vulnerabilities within the Korean football ecosystem. The dependence on star players, tactical absence, and loss of philosophy interact like an entangled thread, weakening overall competitiveness. A systemic framework aiding growth for promising talents is lacking, and in the absence of an established team strategy, even exceptionally skilled players struggle to showcase their capabilities. This is the reason Korean football continues to lose its competitive edge on the international stage. Modern football continuously evolves– as seen with the 26% increase in high-intensity runs in the English Premier League (EPL) over the last five seasons, and we must acknowledge the painful reality that we are failing to keep pace with these changes.
It's clear how Korean football must progress. While appreciating the presence of star players, we must focus on enhancing overall team tactical competence rather than burdening them entirely. This necessitates strengthening the expertise of coaching staff, in-depth analysis based on data, and securing tactical flexibility through tactical experimentation. Moreover, a long-term perspective to establish a consistent football philosophy spanning from youth to adult and support its application across all age-group national and club teams is crucial. It is essential to invest and implement structural reforms for the sustainable development of Korean football beyond short-term achievements. Otherwise, we will continue to feel constrained on the international stage.
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