The Korea Herald

지나쌤

Gyeongnam to host QPR in friendly

By Korea Herald

Published : April 22, 2013 - 19:34

    • Link copied

South Korean soccer club Gyeongnam FC will host Queens Park Rangers of the English Premier League in an exhibition game this summer, Gyeongnam officials said Monday.

The K League Classic club said QPR will visit on July 19 for the match. The London-based team has two South Koreans, Park Ji-sung and Yun Suk-young, on its roster.

Gyeongnam FC, based in Changwon, South Gyeongsan Province, said the exact time and venue for the match have not yet been determined, but that QPR has agreed to play Park and Yun before South Korean fans.

Park, the first South Korean to play in the Premier League, remains one of the most popular footballers from the country, though he’s suffering through the worst season of his otherwise solid career.

Yun, who signed with QPR in January this year, is a promising defender who helped South Korea capture the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics. He has yet to make his QPR debut.

Though QPR has been one of the worst clubs in the ongoing Premier League season, South Korean fans will have plenty to look forward to thanks to QPR’s guarantee of playing time for Park and Yun, said Ahn Jong-bok, president of Gyeongnam FC.

“We’ve organized this friendly match to raise the profile of our club and to give back to our fans,” Ahn said. (Yonhap News)