The Resolve of the '96-Born Trio: "Strength in Friendship!"

[Anchor]

The South Korean national football team heading to the North and Central America World Cup features a trio of "best friends" born in the same year: Hwang Hee-chan, Hwang In-beom, and Kim Min-jae. This trio, whose skills are as solid as their friendship, has solidified their resolve ahead of the first match against the Czech Republic in three days.

Lee Jeong-Chan reports from Guadalajara.

[Reporter]

As the training camp enters its fourth week, it has been the "96-born trio" that has shifted the atmosphere whenever the team faced a hurdle.

When junior player Cho Wi-je felt the pressure of suddenly filling the void left by Cho Yu-min's injury, Kim Min-jae took the lead.

[Kim Min-jae/National Team Defender: "Wi-je, you have to keep talking. Keep talking!"]

Hwang In-beom, the "core of the midfield," was the first to clearly state the team's goal.

[Hwang In-beom/National Team Midfielder: "I think we can only call it a better result if we reach at least the quarterfinals."]

In particular, Hwang Hee-chan, who created a historic moment for Korean football with his "dramatic goal" against Portugal in the Qatar World Cup four years ago, is injecting vitality into training with his bull-like energy and has promised to recreate that excitement.

[Hwang Hee-chan/National Team Forward: "If such a scene happens again, it would be a great situation for me and for our team, so I will work hard to refine it and show it in every match."]

Having grown up together since their school days, combined to win an Asian Games gold medal, and contributed to the "miracle of the round of 16" at the Qatar tournament—their first World Cup together—the trio has pledged to take on a "bigger role" this time.

[Hwang Hee-chan/National Team Forward: "We have played in many tournaments together, but every tournament is special. Especially for this one, I think we have a strong desire to play a bigger role and be of great help to the team."]

There are three days left until the fateful match against the Czech Republic. Minerva, the "goddess of strategy," is the symbol of Guadalajara.

Our players are dreaming of a historic victory here.

(Reported by Hwang In-seok | Video by Park Gi-deok | Graphics by Hwang Se-yeon)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.