South Korean goalkeeper aims for Asian Games gold, following in father's champion footsteps

South Korean goalkeeper Kim Min-seung is setting his sights on a gold medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, driven by a desire to achieve a feat his father accomplished decades ago. Kim, a 21-year-old player for the newly formed Paju FC in the K League 2, has been selected as one of the goalkeepers for the U-23 national team, with coaches opting not to use an overage 'wildcard' player in this position due to the young keepers' potential.

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I'm confident I can save penalty kicks better than the older players. I tend to be calm and have good luck with guessing the direction.

Kim has been in solid form this season, recording four clean sheets in 13 K League 2 matches for Paju. His standout skill, however, is his penalty-saving ability, which caught the eye of national team coach Lee Min-sung. Kim demonstrated this prowess by saving penalties in consecutive matches against Suwon Samsung and Ansan. "I'm confident I can save penalty kicks better than the older players. I tend to be calm and have good luck with guessing the direction," Kim stated, expressing his self-assurance.

His debut for the senior national team against Kyrgyzstan ended in a 0-1 loss, a result that left Kim disappointed and reflective. "Football is a sport that speaks through results. I conceded the goal, and the team lost, which was very regrettable. I felt that even Asian teams are not to be underestimated," he admitted. Despite the setback, Kim's selection for the Asian Games squad was confirmed while he was at the Paju training center, a moment that brought back memories of his past struggles and solidified his determination to win gold.

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Football is a sport that speaks through results. I conceded the goal, and the team lost, which was very regrettable. I felt that even Asian teams are not to be underestimated.

Should Kim achieve his goal, he would join his father, Kim Kyung-han, a celebrated Sepak Takraw athlete who won three Asian Games gold medals in 1998 and 2002. This would make them the first father-son duo to win gold medals from the same family at the Asian Games. Kim recalled his father's casual encouragement, "Just help your teammates and work hard, and you can win a gold medal." Kim humorously retorted, "Dad, soccer is different from Sepak Takraw," highlighting the unique pressures and dynamics of his sport.

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Dad, soccer is different from Sepak Takraw.