Leading for change: Captain Kim of Korea
Image: Anita Milas
By Alice Yoon
Fans swarming around him for photos and autographs, Seong Jun Kim stands tall and takes it all in. Giving credit to his teammates and coaches before himself, he stays humble. Seong Jun is the captain of the South Korean team at the Homeless World Cup 2024, donning the number 7 on his back.
The remarkable overlap between Seong Jun and the Spurs forward, Heung Min Son, is a story of humility and a sense of responsibility unlike any other.
Image: Anita Milas
Image: Anita Milas
Travelling to Seoul from Busan, a port city on the southeastern coast of South Korea, this was Seong Jun’s first time on a train and his second time in the capital city. The only thing on Seong Jun’s mind in preparation for the tournament was his duty as a captain to work harder than anyone else on the pitch. His determination paid off when the host country defeated Germany on opening day; he even befriended the German team’s Number 7.
The following two matches were far from easy—South Korea fell to Bulgaria and Egypt in back-to-back blowouts. Seong Jun describes the difficulty of having to adjust to the heat and outdoor pitches, contrasted with air-conditioned indoor pitches the team usually practiced on. However, when players falter, the Korean coaches and managers are there to support. Seong Jun’s mentality strengthened with the coach’s directive to “switch on”, and Captain Kim saved the day with a 9-2 victory against Switzerland.
The ups and downs of the South Korean team’s performance mirror Seong Jun’s walk in life; inspired by the social workers who helped him in his childhood, he started volunteering at social welfare centers for youth. Through playing football with the kids there, he wanted to do more in fighting against the stigma around them.
Once the Homeless World Cup concludes, Seong Jun will finish a degree in social welfare and plans to start a career in social work for youth. As Mahatma Gandhi once said, “You must be the change you wish to see in the world,” and Seong Jun is doing just that. Let’s stay tuned for a beautiful ending to both the South Korean team in this year’s Homeless World Cup and Seong Jun’s future endeavours.