- The star in Seoul: Host Kim surprises Bayern colleagues
Minjae Kim is the star of the FC Bayern's South Korea trip, among many Munich stars. Whether as a promotional figure, a fan magnet, or in the endless flashbulb storm of local photographers at the press conference in the World Cup Stadium before the test match against Tottenham Hotspur.
Even on Saturday (13:00 CET/RTL/Sky/DAZN), many of the 63,000 spectators will pay particular attention to the tall central defender. After all, Kim will also face his famous compatriot and Spurs star Heung-Min Son.
The promotional images of the two Korean stars adorn the exterior of the WM arena, where the German national team defeated South Korea in the semi-finals in 2002 with a goal from Michael Ballack and advanced to the subsequent lost World Cup final against Brazil.
Kim, of course, completes the most marketing appointments of all Bayern professionals in Seoul. And it is noticeable, for example, at a joint appearance with the Asia-popular original Bayern Thomas Müller and the Austrian Konrad Laimer in a large shopping mall near the team hotel, that Kim moves more relaxed and approachable in his familiar environment.
"I don't like being in the spotlight"
Kim laughs a lot. Here he can speak in his language. Later, he calls Müller "a legend". But even in these days of great public attention, Kim emphasizes: "I actually don't like being in the spotlight". For the German record champion, who signed him for around 50 million euros from SSC Naples last year, he is naturally particularly significant in the interesting Korean football market.
Kim surprised his teammates in Seoul right upon arrival. He had flown ahead of the team to spend some time with his family. And not only captain Manuel Neuer was surprised upon landing: "That was a nice welcome. I thought he would receive us at the hotel, but Minjae was then at the airport. A great gesture."
Kim takes his role as host seriously: On the day of arrival, he invited his colleagues to a Korean barbecue in the metropolis. The team event was very well received. It tasted really good, for example, reported Jamal Musiala. Joshua Kimmich tried out particularly many dishes, Kim proudly and gratefully reported. "I'm glad to be able to show my team my country." And thus also things like the food culture.
"I want to see the right mentality"
"The attention Minjae is getting here is exciting to watch. And how he handles it is great," says coach Vincent Kompany in amazement. The Belgian has to use the limited time off the marketing activities to prepare the slowly filling Bayern squad as well as possible for the season under the difficult conditions of the strenuous trip. The priority against Tottenham is, despite the long flight, the time zone change, and above all the challenging heat, "to build up a good fitness level". He wants to "see the right mentality of the players" against Tottenham.
Even the EM participants Manuel Neuer, Thomas Müller, Jamal Musiala, and Joshua Kimmich, as well as the Portuguese newcomer João Palhinha, are set to make their first appearances. "But we'll distribute the playing time well," Kompany announces.
Kim will of course play - presumably also significantly longer than the latecomers. And he announces that he wants to prevent his national team colleague Son from scoring goals and leave the pitch as the winner. "I've already played against Sonny, but only in training. I'm looking forward to meeting him on the pitch."
By the way, Kim wants to travel with the Bayern more often - and not just to his home country. Because for Kim, leaving the German record champion after just one year is not an issue at all. "Leaving the club? I've never thought about it," he says determinedly in Seoul. "My focus is now on preparation and the new season."
In the promotional images outside the World Cup Stadium, Minjae Kim and his compatriot and Spurs star Heung-Min Son are featured, as the German national team faced South Korea there in the 2002 semi-finals, with a win from Michael Ballack leading to a World Cup final loss against Brazil.
As Minjae Kim takes his role as host seriously in Seoul, he invites his Bayern teammates to a Korean barbecue upon their arrival, a gesture that was well-received by the team, particularly by Joshua Kimmich who tried out numerous dishes.
