Jeju United (hereafter referred to as Jeju) continues to accompany each other based on faith and trust. In the 2022 season, veteran goalkeeper Kim Geun-bae (36), who played a big role as a loaner, signed a one-year renewal contract with a full transfer, and signed a three-year contract extension with versatile Jeju’s future Kim Bong-soo (23) until 2025.
Kim Geun-bae was recruited on loan from Gimpo FC of the K-League 2 to Jeju in July of last year. Kim Geun-bae, who took his first steps on the professional stage by joining Gangwon FC in 2009, was a veteran goalkeeper who went through Sangju Sangmu, Seongnam FC, Daejeon Hana Citizen, and Gimpo FC. Director Nam Ki-il chose to recruit Kim Geun-bae on loan to fill the power vacuum created by Moon Kyung-gun’s enlistment.
I also have a relationship with director Ki-il Nam. When coach Nam Ki-il took the helm of Seongnam in the 2018 season, he played as the main goalkeeper and played in 23 matches, allowing only 23 goals, leading the team to promotion to the first division. The reunion was also successful. On August 5, 2022, he made his Jeju debut in the Seoul expedition, led Jeju to a 2-0 victory with a crazy save show, and was selected as the BEST 11 of the 27th round of Hana One Q K League 1 2022.
Although he came to Jeju as a renter for 6 months, his presence was strong. He played in 4 matches, supported No. 1 goalkeeper Kim Dong-jun, and played a role as a pillar on and off the field with his veteran-like endurance and character. This is 안전놀이터 the reason why he pushed for his complete transfer. Coach Nam Ki-il sent unwavering trust, saying, “He is a great player who shows the reason for a veteran’s existence. I hope he will become a pillar of Jeju this year as well.”
Kim Geun-bae said, “I am very grateful to Jeju for making it possible for me to prove my worth on the K-League 1 stage. My role remains unchanged in the 2023 season. There are many good goalkeeper juniors such as Kim Dong-jun and Kim Hyung-geun in Jeju. I want to compete, and my experiences have become a source of nourishment for their development and growth.”
It is no exaggeration to say that Kim Bong-soo, who signed a new contract, is director Nam Ki-il’s ‘persona’. Kim Bong-soo is the protagonist who led Gwangju University to win the U-League 6 in 2019. In the same year, he even won the Korean University Football Federation Outstanding Player Award. Kim Bong-soo, who has a solid physical body of 183 cm and 78 kg, quickly melted into his professional stage wearing a Jeju uniform in 2021 with his midfield control ability and bold shooting power.
In the 2021 season, he was used as a U-22 participation card and played 28 games, scoring 3 goals and 1 assist. Even though he is not a U-22 card this year, he properly showed his presence among K-League 1 top midfielders such as Koo Ja-cheol, Lee Chang-min, Yoon Bit-garam, and Choi Young-jun. He also evolved. According to his tactical change, he showed his qualities as a “multiplayer” by playing not only as a central midfielder, but also as a right stopper.
He played in 33 games in the 2022 season and recorded 1 assist. Before he knew it, he had grown from a divinity to a key player. Coach Nam Ki-il said, “Even at a young age, he is a player with a high understanding of tactics and efficient positioning play. He has good interpersonal defense and a stable build-up starting from the right foot, so he can even use the right stopper. It can’t be the future of Jeju, which is really versatile.” He raised his finger.
Kim Bong-soo, who predicted a brighter Jeju and his own future, said, “It was my dream to debut on the professional stage. I am really happy to have signed a new contract. I will repay your trust and confidence in me with my skills on the pitch.”