Seo Jin-soo (23) is the ‘seed of success’ sown in Jeju. Seo Jin-soo, who was active as a midfielder during his time at Hakseong Middle School in Ulsan and had good foot skills, grew into a striker in the Jeju U-18 team. In March 2018, he also won the top scorer (9 goals) in the National High School Football Tournament under the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism. In addition to his quick shooting, his screen play and ball control skills were praised for their quality.
He was a ‘sensation’ in his highly anticipated professional debut season. On July 10, 2019, he started against FC Seoul, the third game of his debut, and set a record as the youngest assist hat-trick in K-League history. Four years have passed since then. Last year, he also completed his military service at Gimcheon Sangmu. Now is the time to become a full-fledged main striker.
Seo Jin-soo, who met at the 2023 winter battery training media camp held at Barev Hotel in Seogwipo-si, Jeju-do on the 8th, said, “In Jeju, I am in charge of the right flank striker. I am trying to match the pattern play harmoniously with the newly recruited Hays and Yuri.” revealed the idea. He added, “Hayes and Yuri told me that they would like me to score more goals. However, if I am greedy, I may not score goals. Rather than personal greed, I will focus on the team scoring more goals.”
Kim In-seong (Pohang), Eom Won-sang (Ulsan), Lee Dong-jun (Jeonbuk) is not a ‘speed type winger’. Seo Jin-soo prefers to receive the ball and break through. His role model is Koo Ja-cheol. “Since he came up as a pro, Ja-cheol hyung has been my role model. I heard a lot about Ja-cheol hyung through his play style and acquaintances. In the past, he gave me a lot of confidence, but now he calmly told me not to be too greedy compared to his position… He advised me not to be shaken and move forward.”
It’s an age where I worry a lot about soccer. Seo Jin-soo also nodded. He explained, “I worried about that a lot before enlisting in the army. The 2020 season was difficult. So, a change was necessary. Still, I think I improved my physical and mental skills while in the army.”
Nam Ki-il, Jeju coach, manages to keep Seo Jin-soo’s confidence from diminishing. Seo Jin-soo laughed, saying, “The coach instills confidence in me. Instead of saying ‘how to do it’, he says ‘I’m doing well’. When the coach says that, I gain a lot of confidence as a player.”
Seo Jin-soo, who aimed to increase the number of matches every year, said, “I want to show a good performance in the K-League and try to go abroad as soon as possible. Also, I want to become a national representative.” He added, “I thought I wanted to play football in front of a large crowd while watching the World Cup from the viewer’s point of view. Ja-cheol hyung always says that I should become a national team player and play in Sangam where 60,000 spectators gather. 안전놀이터 I think my dream of national team has grown bigger. “he emphasized.
Seo Jin-soo had no relationship with the national team by age until he came to the pros. However, he steadily entered the under-23 (U-23) national team led by coach Hwang Seon-hong for the gold medal in the Hangzhou Asian Games. Seo Jin-soo said, “Except for the U-23 national team, I had no relationship with the national team before. I want to make good use of this opportunity. I have completed my military service, but I want to participate in the Hangzhou Asian Games. I have it,” he said.