'Shooting Star Season 2' Gu Ja-cheol shared his thoughts on playing again.
On the 12th, a site visit took place for the filming of the Coupang Play variety show 'Shooting Star Season 2' (hereafter referred to as Shooting Star 2) at the Yongin Mireu Stadium in Samga-dong, Cheoin-gu, Yongin.
'Shooting Star 2' is the only full-time growth soccer variety show in Korea where retired legendary players challenge active K League players alongside Director General Park Ji-sung and Coach Choi Yong-soo. Last season, 'Shooting Star', which surpassed 3 million cumulative views with shorts and reels, proved its real-time popularity and aims to continue the 'Shooting Star Syndrome' once again towards a higher goal of challenging K3 League in an upgraded lineup compared to Season 1.
FC Shooting Star, promoted to K3 League, will compete against the top semi-professional league's K3 clubs that connect K League 1 and K League 2. As the competition becomes stronger, the players have been upgraded to a level that would not be out of place as a dream team. This season, Gu Ja-cheol, a key player in winning the bronze medal at the 2012 London Olympics and captain of the 'London Generation' national team, Lee Geun-ho, known as the 'Son of the Sun' who won the AFC Champions League MVP and Player of the Year award, Yeom Ki-hoon, praised by Coach Choi Yong-soo in Season 1 as 'Yeom Star', and legendary defender Yoon Young-sun join newly recruited players to harmonize with the existing players.
Gu Ja-cheol said, 'Joining itself was a big challenge for me personally. I retired after hardly being able to play in my last season due to injury, so I had concerns and fears about whether I could help and create a story by joining. Now, my calf condition has improved and I have gained confidence. I want to play sincerely on the pitch and gather more soccer fans.'
Immediately after retiring, Gu Ja-cheol joined 'Shooting Star'. He said, 'I watched Season 1 and found it interesting to see retired players playing soccer. It was particularly exciting for me to meet Coach Choi Yong-soo for the first time and to be able to work with the players, coaches, and staff that I couldn't work with before.' He added, 'I retired with regrets as a player after finishing my active career on the pitch. I have been re-motivated, and though there is stress due to injuries, I am glad to be able to stand on the pitch again.'
By joining 'Shooting Star' right after retiring, Gu Ja-cheol is readjusting to the routine of a professional. He stated, 'At first, after retiring, while doing various things, I couldn't immerse myself in soccer. A professional player adjusts their condition 365 days a year, but now that I am back on the pitch, I am managing my body like a professional player. I gained 8 kg after retirement, but now I have lost 4 kg. I am working hard to show a better appearance.'
The Coupang Play variety show 'Shooting Star Season 2' is set to be released this fall.
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