Futsal, the 'indigenous brand' of Korean sports, has been spreading beyond the country's borders in recent years. This year alone, the Korea League, in which 11 unemployed men's teams participated, was successfully held, and the World Futsal Championships were held in Korea. Unsurprisingly, just like the recent "female fever" in soccer, the number of women participating in futsal is on the rise.
According to the Korea Futsal Association, the number of registered female players this year reached 1298 (42,140 men), surpassing 1,000 for the first time. The futsal association is also focusing on promoting women's futsal, and recently registered 48 teams nationwide. Hong Ki-yong, president of the federation, is also pushing for the introduction of a women's division in the Korea League next year.
Not surprisingly, there are colorful characters in the women's game. Lee Do-hee (Suseong District Sports Association), a former taekwondo player who served in the military as an officer and retired as a captain, is a prime example, and is loved for her powerful spike serves and spinning kicks, which are as spectacular as her male counterparts. The latest "next big thing" is Shim Seo-hee (25, Joy Kick Sports). The 164cm tall player started playing soccer in the fourth grade and graduated from the prestigious Ulsan Hyundai High School and Ulsan University of Science and Technology. A promising attacker who can play both up front and as a winger, she also represented her country at key age groups, including the Women's U-20 national team in 2016 and 2017. After a trial in 2019, she signed with FC Koln Frauen, becoming the first Korean women's soccer player to play in the German Bundesliga.
Unfortunately, the following year, the league was suspended due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Shim ended her European career with a bang and boarded a plane to South Korea.
"The German language is quite difficult to learn, and I've been working hard on it. I wanted to challenge myself in Europe, but it was hard because I was 'shut down' for so long," she said.
Upon returning to Korea, Shim was devastated. He had every intention of continuing his soccer career, but he couldn't make up his mind. Then, last year, he had a fateful encounter with futsal. "My dad was playing futsal. I followed him at dawn and tried it, and it was fun." "There was a futsal tournament organized by my father's company. There was a women's division. At the time, I thought I was good enough to play soccer, but I was inspired to try futsal." 카지노사이트가이드
With a strong soccer background, Shim quickly adapted to futsal. He joined Joykick Sports, a futsal equipment company, and officially started his professional career. "Soccer is also about teamwork, but futsal requires a lot of faith in each other in a small space to do well," he says. Of course, there are challenges. "It's mentally challenging because you have to handle the ball delicately, down to your toes," says Shim. There are some elements that are a little different from the basics of soccer, and when I first started playing futsal, I had trouble getting the soccer in me out. For example, I was in the habit of kicking the ball because I played soccer, but in futsal, it's all about instantaneous impact, so the stopping motion is important."
With a strong soccer background, Shim quickly adapted to futsal. He joined Joykick Sports, a futsal equipment company, and officially started his professional career. "Soccer is also about teamwork, but futsal requires a lot of faith in each other in a small space to do well," he says. Of course, there are challenges. "It's mentally challenging because you have to handle the ball delicately, down to your toes," says Shim. There are some elements that are a little different from the basics of soccer, and when I first started playing futsal, I had trouble getting the soccer in me out. For example, I was in the habit of kicking the ball because I played soccer, but in futsal, it's all about instantaneous impact, so the stopping motion is important."
Shim Seo-hee, a former teammate of women's national soccer team striker Kang Chae-rim, still gets in touch with his old soccer teammates from time to time. "One day I told them I was competing in the National Games," he says, "and one of them asked me, 'What are you doing there?' When I told him I was competing in futsal, he was surprised and said, 'Oh, there's such a thing,'" he laughs.
Shim Seo-hee at the World Netball Women's Championships in Switzerland last October. Courtesy | Shim Seo-hee
Shim also plays for the South Korean national team in futsal. She competed in the World Netball Women's Championship, which wrapped up in Switzerland late last month.
"It's a sport that can be played anywhere with a ball and a net, and it's a great way to get to know people," she says of the recent increase in female participation in the sport. I want more women to know and play futsal," he said. She also hopes that futsal will be recognized as an official sport next year. "Joykick is the team that led me to become a futsal player," said Shim Seo-hee. I want to win a gold medal at the Games with my sisters (Shin Ok-hee, Han Ga-hae, and Kim Bo-sun), as well as coach Lee Kwang-je and Lee Seung-ho," she laughed.