National Soccer Player Lee Jae-sung Coaches Middle Schoolers in 'Football for Coexistence'

South Korean national soccer team midfielder Lee Jae-sung traded his professional cleats for a teaching role, becoming a guest coach for around 30 middle school students at Shinheung Middle School in Jeonju. The event, held on July 22, was part of the 'Football for Coexistence' program, a sports-based global citizenship education initiative.

Lee, a player for Mainz in the German Bundesliga and a long-time member of the national team, guided the students through fundamental soccer drills, including passing and shooting, before they engaged in a mini-game. He emphasized the importance of teamwork, telling the students, "Football is about 11 players moving towards one goal. I hope you feel today that you can achieve more together than you can alone."

He further highlighted the role of communication and consideration in both sports and life. "Small habits like calling out a teammate's name when passing and making it easy for the receiver to control the ball create better plays and better relationships," Lee explained. The 'Football for Coexistence' program aims to teach students values such as respect, cooperation, communication, and coexistence through soccer and is implemented in UNESCO schools nationwide.

The special class was organized to commemorate the first anniversary of the 'Football with a Ball' campaign, a joint initiative between Lee and the Korean National Commission for UNESCO launched last year. Funds raised through the campaign support the 'Football for Coexistence' program. Lee, who is also a UNESCO Friend, has previously spoken about coexistence and respect and has contributed to the campaign through donations and talent.