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[Graphic News] Korean soccer stars shine in Europe
In the 2025 season, South Korean soccer reached new heights as three national stars — Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min — each lifted major trophies with their European clubs.
Kim Min-jae anchored Bayern Munich's defense en route to winning the 2024–25 Bundesliga, securing his first German league title. In doing so, he became the first Korean player to win top-flight championships in two of Europe's Big Five leagues, having previously triumphed in Serie A with Napoli.
Lee Kang-in enjoyed a breakout season with Paris Saint-Germain, playing a key role in the club's clean sweep of domestic and continental honors: the 2024–25 Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and a historic first UEFA Champions League triumph — along with the Trophee des Champions.
Meanwhile, Son Heung-min captained Tottenham Hotspur to victory in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League on May 21, ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy and adding a crowning achievement to his storied career.
Together, their success marked a landmark year for Korean soccer, amplifying the country's influence on the European stage and inspiring the next generation of talent across Asia.
don@heraldcorp.com
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Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Korea Herald
[Graphic News] Korean soccer stars shine in Europe
In the 2025 season, South Korean soccer reached new heights as three national stars — Kim Min-jae, Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min — each lifted major trophies with their European clubs. Kim Min-jae anchored Bayern Munich's defense en route to winning the 2024–25 Bundesliga, securing his first German league title. In doing so, he became the first Korean player to win top-flight championships in two of Europe's Big Five leagues, having previously triumphed in Serie A with Napoli. Lee Kang-in enjoyed a breakout season with Paris Saint-Germain, playing a key role in the club's clean sweep of domestic and continental honors: the 2024–25 Ligue 1 title, Coupe de France and a historic first UEFA Champions League triumph — along with the Trophee des Champions. Meanwhile, Son Heung-min captained Tottenham Hotspur to victory in the 2024–25 UEFA Europa League on May 21, ending the club's 17-year wait for a major trophy and adding a crowning achievement to his storied career. Together, their success marked a landmark year for Korean soccer, amplifying the country's influence on the European stage and inspiring the next generation of talent across Asia. don@
Korea Herald
06-06-2025
- Korea Herald
Haier's Strategic Partnership with Roland-Garros Enters Third Year, Driving Shared Values of Excellence
PARIS, June 6, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- As the 2025 Roland-Garros (French Open) enters its final stretch, the iconic clay courts of Paris are once again alive with the intensity and elegance that define the Grand Slam. At the heart of this prestigious tournament, Haier celebrates the third year of its strategic partnership with Roland-Garros, first launched in 2023. This enduring collaboration reflects a shared commitment to excellence, innovation, and resilience, values that resonate both on the court and across Haier's global vision for premium living. Forging Strength and Grace: A Shared Journey of Excellence While every Grand Slam tournament tests a player's determination and skill, Roland-Garros stands apart for its demand for finesse, resilience, and endurance on clay. Similarly, Haier's journey in building a global brand began in 1990 and it took 25 years of unwavering commitment to achieve financial self-balance in overseas markets, reflecting the endurance and long-term vision that define both sport and business. Beyond endurance, Roland-Garros stands as a beacon of global prestige and refined standards, while Haier has cultivated a reputation as a leading high-end brand in Europe. Together, they embody a powerful synergy of perseverance and sophistication on the global stage. As global momentum toward intelligent and sustainable innovation accelerates, the 2025 AI Action Summit in Paris exemplifies a shared international ambition for inclusive, energy-efficient, and human-centered technology. In this context, Haier continues to lead the way. In France, Haier's Langjing X11 washing machine exemplified its commitment, delivering 60% energy savings compared to Europe's rigorous A-class standards—a critical advantage amid rising energy concerns. With premium pricing (reflected in a price index of 275 in Poland and 375 in the UK), the Langjing X11 reinforces Haier's innovative, high-end positioning. In 2024, Haier achieved 47% brand awareness in France, highlighting its growing influence among discerning consumers. Strategic Expansion of Haier in Europe: Deep Roots and Localized Excellence The success of Haier in France is the result of a long-term commitment to deep localization and strategic expansion across Europe. Since entering Germany in the 1990s, Haier has built a strong and steady presence across the continent, driven by a consistent focus on innovation and user needs. At the core of the European growth of Haier is the 3-in-1 strategy (localized R&D, manufacturing, and marketing), enabling the brand to respond quickly and effectively to local demand. For instance, in the European market where air conditioner penetration remains below 5%, Haier introduced a smart air solution with simplified installation to meet local needs with precision and efficiency. The spirit of persistence and dedication to innovation, grounded in a deep understanding of local markets, has propelled the steady rise of Haier across multiple European countries. Haier continues to lead in Europe. This success story reflects the ongoing dedication of Haier to innovation and localization, anchored by the 3-in-1 strategy, which continues to drive its strong market presence and recognition, with brand awareness reaching approximately 30% across Europe in 2024. Haier ESG Commitment: Empowering a Greener, More Inclusive Future The partnership between Haier and Roland-Garros goes beyond the court and represents a shared commitment to promoting healthy lifestyles, advancing social responsibility, and creating sustainable value for communities across the globe. At Roland-Garros, Haier brought its ESG values to life through an immersive pop-up experience, showcasing its latest advancements in sustainable technology. Demonstrating a firm commitment to nurturing the next generation, Haier partnered with Open Stade Français to launch the "Haier Fans Cup", offering young winners the unique opportunity to attend the tournament and meet former WTA Number one champion Ana Ivanovic. Further reflecting its people-centric and innovation-driven approach, Haier France was awarded the Gold certification for Great Onboarding from Workelo, demonstrating its dedication to building a future-ready workplace. From homes to communities, from sustainable technologies to human-centered governance, Haier is setting a new standard for global brands.
Korea Herald
06-06-2025
- Korea Herald
S. Korea coach looking to test young players ahead of World Cup
With South Korea having locked down their World Cup berth early, head coach Hong Myung-bo said Friday he will use the team's one final qualifying match to test young and unproven players. Hong and the rest of the team received a hero's welcome home at Incheon International Airport, just west of Seoul, on Friday evening, some 12 hours after securing their 2026 World Cup ticket by beating Iraq 2-0 in Basra, southern Iraq, in their latest qualifying match. South Korea will compete in their 11th consecutive World Cup, a streak bettered by only Brazil, Germany, Argentina, Italy and Spain. South Korea will host Kuwait in Seoul on Tuesday to wrap up Group B play in the third round of the Asian qualifiers. After grabbing their World Cup spot in a hostile environment, the South Korean players will likely be in for a celebratory night in front of home fans in an otherwise inconsequential match. To Hong, though, the match will still be an important occasion as he hopes to get a closer look at some inexperienced players in a national team setting. "We will try our best in that match. And it's an opportunity for us to test young guys who may be able to play at the World Cup next year," Hong told reporters at the airport. "We won't have too many opportunities like this. It's one thing for those guys to watch from the bench and quite another for them to play." Hong said there is no shortage of options on the current iteration of the squad. Of the 26 players, seven players were born in the 2000s and 14 players have fewer than 10 caps. Five of them didn't have any international appearance prior to the Iraq match, with defender Cho Hyun-taek and midfielder Jeon Jin-woo making their debuts in Basra. "Both on defense and offense, we can send out some young players. I will be talking to my staff on how to go about that plan," Hong added. "From this moment on, everything we do will be geared toward preparing for the World Cup." After the Kuwait match, Hong said he will travel to the United States to watch the FIFA Club World Cup, where his former K League 1 team, Ulsan HD FC, will be the lone South Korean representative. Then in July, South Korea will host the East Asian Football Federation E-1 Championship, followed by friendly matches against the US and Mexico in September. The EAFF tournament has usually featured players based in the domestic K League because it's held in the offseason for European clubs. With the World Cup a year away, though, Hong hinted he may cast a wider net than usual when it comes to selecting players. "For the East Asian tournament, I want to take players who have a chance to play, and help the team at the World Cup and be competitive there," Hong said. "After that event, then I will start getting ready for the September friendlies." With young guns licking their chops, Hong hinted that Son Heung-min, who wasn't on the squad list against Iraq, may be held out next week, too. Son missed about a month earlier this year with a foot injury, before captaining Tottenham Hotspur to the UEFA Europa League title on May 21. He did not play in Spurs' final Premier League match of the season that weekend, and Hong said Son is not fully recovered from the foot trouble. "If we wanted to force the issue, he could have played maybe 20 to 30 minutes. But I don't think it's the right thing to do to the player at this moment," Hong said. "His season is over, and he had a tough one with injuries. We will make a decision on him over the next couple of days, but I don't think we're at a point where we have to push him that hard." Hong thanked South Korean fans for their support while watching the match that kicked off at 3:15 a.m. Friday. With Iraq on the South Korean government's travel ban list due to security risks, no fans made the trip to watch the win in person. Hong admitted he had been concerned about safety issues during the team's stay in Iraq and thanked the South Korean Embassy in Iraq for taking good care of the players.
