Mental coach surprised by 'rookie' Lee Ki-hyuk: 'My common sense was shattered'

South Korea's mental coach, Han Deok-hyun, admitted his "common sense" in sports psychology was challenged by the performance of rookie player Lee Ki-hyuk during the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Han, a professor of psychiatry at Chung-Ang University, expressed astonishment at Lee's composure in his World Cup debut.

"Lee Ki-hyuk is a player with little big-stage experience, yet he showed absolutely no fear in his World Cup debut match," Han told reporters at the team's base camp in Safopan, Mexico. "Despite the pressure, his actions and mindset showed no signs of anxiety."

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My common sense in sports psychology has been shattered.

Lee Ki-hyuk, a left-footed center-back for K League 1 club Gangwon, was a surprise inclusion in the 26-man squad for the North and Central American World Cup. He started in South Korea's opening Group A match against the Czech Republic on June 12, contributing to their dramatic 2-1 comeback victory. Playing alongside European-based players Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich and Han I-beom of Midtjylland, Lee impressed with his bold play, earning praise for his debut performance despite a few minor errors.

Former player and current KBS commentator Lee Young-pyo also commented on Lee Ki-hyuk's performance after the match.

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Lee Ki-hyuk is a player with little big-stage experience, yet he showed absolutely no fear in his World Cup debut match. Despite the pressure, his actions and mindset showed no signs of anxiety.