BUSAN, South Korea - Teams around the Korean Soccer League will take the field this weekend for another season. Should be fun, and as the World Cup in South Africa starts to appear on the horizon, there are several South Korean players looking for a seat on the team plane to the biggest event on the sporting calendar.
The Daewoo corporation started Busan’s local team, known as Busan I’Park, in 1983. As with most Korean sports teams, they took the name of their sponsors – to be born the Daewoo Royals. They became Busan I'Park in 2005. If you are trying to figure out the meaning of the name "Busan I'Park," a clue to the fact that they were at one time called Busan I'Cons --short for "construction."
Though not a big draw locally, the club is hoping to see their attendance get remotely closer to that of the Lotte Giants --or perhaps even to that of a new restaurant opening up somewhere in the neighborhood. Though low turnout is not for a lack of playing decent football.
I'Park has been to the playoffs 8 times since the late 80's and last year Busan hit the back of the net in 23 of their 28 games making them one of the most free-scoring teams in the league to watch. Yet, attendance at Asiad Stadium in Sajik Dong only averages about 8,000 --a sad sight in a 56,000-seat deluxe venue.
In short: There is plenty of room to see some future superstars. All for roughly the same price as a baseball game. Plus you don’t have to wear an orange plastic bag on your head.
Though the I'Park scores frequently, the opposing teams tend to do so more often when it matters most. Last season Busan I’Park finished in 12th place in a league with 15 clubs --only one point ahead of Gangwon's FC at 13th.
But as they say: “Football’s a funny ol’ game.”
The opener is on Saturday 27th Feb, when the I'Park will play host to Jeju Utd at 3pm. In their most recent meeting last season, Busan eased through with three goals for the win. Hopefully I'Park can open with a win. It would be fine start to the season if Busan can slot three goals past their opponents in a mirror image of last season’s game.
Overall in the K-League the club to keep an eye on is Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in Jeonju. They beat nearly every club that crossed their path last year -amassing 57 points and a staggering goal difference of 26 while losing only five games. They took the title with ease. Lee Dong Gook got MVP with 21 goals and will play doubly hard this year to join the national team. Check him out when he comes to town.
Korea has now started to make its mark on the world stage after reaching the Semi finals of the 2002 World Cup resulting in the number of players moving to European teams. With the triumph of Park Je Sung at Manchester Utd, who is revered more like a God in this country than an overpaid football player and Lee Chung-Yong who is starting to make headway with Bolton Wanderers, we have steadily seen a number of bigger clubs looking closer at the peninsula for cheaper players, but with these players moving abroad it gives the young generation a chance to take the field.
For further information on Busan I’Park, or anything on the K-league check out http://www.soccerphile.com/soccerphile/news/korean-soccer/index.html
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/K_league
Getting to Asiad stadium is easy. Take line 3 to Sajik Sports Complex and follow the signs.
