'Together We Play Football' Lee Dongguk Criticizes Ahn Junghwan's Commentary: "It's Improved Now"

On the 17th, Lee Dongguk, a soccer player from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, appeared as a special coach on JTBC's "Gather and Play." Photo by JTBC

[Asia Economy, Kang Juhee, Intern Reporter] Soccer players Lee Dongguk and Ahn Junghwan showcased their heartfelt 22-year friendship.

On the JTBC program "Together We Play Football," which aired on the 17th, Lee Dongguk appeared as a special coach and invited the members of the "Accidental FC" team to the Jeonbuk club house.

Lee Dongguk explained, "I've enjoyed watching 'Together We Play Football.' Even though it's far, I wanted to invite you all so you could experience the best club facilities in Korea and take away some positive energy."

Lee Dongguk also opened up about his feelings at the time when he was not selected for the national team for the 2002 and 2006 World Cups.

When asked about being called an "unlucky World Cup player," Lee Dongguk recalled, "At that time, Junghwan was in excellent condition. In 2002, about four strikers were chosen, including Hwang Sunhong, Choi Yongsoo, and Seol Kihyun. The final roster was selected mainly based on the players who were in good form and those preferred by the coach, so I was dropped at the last entry."

He continued, regarding not being selected for the 2006 national team, "I was in good condition then. After missing out on the 2002 World Cup, I focused solely on the 2006 World Cup, but two months before the tournament, I suffered a cruciate ligament injury," expressing his disappointment.

Lee Dongguk and Ahn Junghwan, who both debuted in the K League in 1998, also expressed their affection for each other. Ahn Junghwan jokingly said, "You should have come to Seoul; do we really have to come all the way down here?"

They were also candid in their evaluations of each other. Lee Dongguk directly commented on Ahn Junghwan's soccer commentary, saying, "That's the kind of commentary players shouldn't listen to." He added, "When commentating, you have to point things out and explain for the viewers. Players already know they've made a mistake, but when you specifically highlight it so the whole nation knows, it can make the player feel bad."

In response, Ahn Junghwan said, "No one is as neutral in their commentary as I am," to which Lee Dongguk replied, "You've improved a lot recently. There are things you say that make sense from a player's perspective, but there are also things I really wish you wouldn't say."

Ahn Junghwan explained, "I say those things because I want the national team to improve."

When asked, "What does Ahn Junghwan mean to you?" Lee Dongguk replied, "We've been together since we first turned professional, and we used to keep in touch often, but recently, since he moved into broadcasting, we haven't been able to talk as much. I hope we can get back to contacting each other as frequently as we used to."

In response, Ahn Junghwan said, "Dongguk and I debuted as professionals together, and whether in football or in life, we're companions. We've shared good times, bad times, and difficult periods together, and it's a bond that can't be broken," creating a warm atmosphere.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.