Gangwon was a place with a special meaning to Korean-Japanese defender Han Ho-gang (Suwon Samsung).
Suwon won 2-0 with consecutive goals from Han Ho-gang and Ahn Byung-jun in the Hanawon Q K-League 1 2023 round 13 away match against Gangwon FC held at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon on the 13th.
Suwon, who added 3 points, maintained 12th place with 2 wins, 2 draws and 9 losses, with 8 points. However, by narrowing the gap with Gangwon in 11th place to 2 points, they prepared a stepping stone to escape from the bottom.
On this day, Han Ho-gang started as a center back in place of Bultuis, who was unable to come out due to suspension due to accumulated warnings in the previous round against Jeonbuk.
Suwon coach Kim Byung-soo explained, “We needed a sense of stability in the defense. The coaching staff said that Han Ho-gang had the ability to lead the defense. Since there was no player who could lead, we used Han Ho-gang as the starter.”
Han Ho-gang tied up Gangwon striker Dino. Overwhelmed Dino in an aerial competition. Gangwon, who tried to make use of Dino’s tall height, was unable to break through Han Ho-gang’s impregnable defense.
Han Ho-gang also scored a valuable opening goal. In the 34th minute of the first half, Lee Ki-je’s left-footed cross was headed. It was the first goal scored in the K-League.
Han Ho-gang, a Korean-Japanese, made his professional debut with Blaublitz Akita in Japan’s J3 League. Afterwards, he moved to the J1 League Yokohama FC and moved to the K League 2 Jeonnam Dragons in March of last year and set foot on Korean soil. In the J-League, his name is quite well known as a defender who scores well with heading goals, but he showed off his set-piece solver instinct without regret in Suwon.
Han Ho-gang, who played for one season in Jeonnam and joined Suwon in February this year, made his K-League 1 debut against Seoul in the 8th round. And he scored his debut goal in 4 matches.
Han Ho-gang, whom we met in the mixed zone after the game, shared his feelings about his first goal in Korea.
Han Ho-gang said, “First of all, I want to say thank you to (Lee) Gi-je. I am happy to have scored my first goal in the K-League 1.”
He revealed that it was especially meaningful as he succeeded in scoring against Gangwon. Han Ho-gang said, “Personally, Gangwon-do was my grandfather’s hometown, so it was more meaningful. Before the game, I had a big heart, saying, ‘I have to do it today’.”
Ahn Byung-jun, who scored the extra goal that day, is also a Korean-Japanese player. Ho-gang Han laughed, “We didn’t talk separately after the game, but I didn’t expect both of us to score today.”메이저놀이터
Han Ho-gang, who started in the J3 League and played in the top league of Korean professional football, said, “I haven’t had time to look back until now. I just came up with the mindset of doing my best in each game in front of me. that,” he said.
He added, “I can look back on the things I have done so far after I retire. Now, I have a big heart to do my best to play the games in front of me.”
Lastly, he said, “I want to fill the maximum number of games this season,” and “I want to become a player who can help the Suwon Samsung team compete in the K-League 1 next year.”