By Honorary Reporter Milan Radic from Serbia
Photo = Milan Radic

Red Star Belgrade midfielder Hwang In-beom was named last season's Player of the Season by Serbia's SuperLiga.

National team midfielder Hwang In-beom has played professionally in Korea, North America, Russia, Greece and now Serbia, where he signed in September last year a four-year deal with the country's top pro team, Red Star Belgrade. 

In 2019, ESPN named him to its Team of the Tournament of the Asian Cup and the East Asian Football Federation Championship, which was won that year by Korea, honored him as Most Valuable Player. 

Last season, he led Red Star to both the league and cup titles and was named SuperLiga Player of the Season. 

The following are excerpts from a May 11 interview with the player. 

How do you like Serbia? What do you miss most about Korea?

Serbia is a good place to live, and I enjoy it here. But I miss my family, especially my wife, who is in Korea due to her pregnancy. I'll return home after the season. 

How different is training in Korea and Serbia?

There isn't much difference. You can find training videos on YouTube, and most sessions are similar worldwide. European coaches are excellent and Asian countries like Korea are adopting European methods. 

Name the most important moment in your career.

I've had many important moments in my career. Playing in the World Cup fulfilled a dream I had since I was 7 or 8. But I treat every game with equal importance, whether it's the Champions League, World Cup or a regular match. As a player, you need to honor every experience.

How do you feel representing Korea in Serbia?

I feel a great responsibility in representing Korea in Serbia. Doing well here can open doors for young Korean players. I'm proud to represent my country and hope to pave the way for more Koreans to join this league.

What differences are there between fans in Korea and Serbia?
Korean fans are passionate and energetic, but Serbian fans take it to another level, especially at the Rajko Mitic Stadium in a derby (when Red Star plays its archrival Partizan Belgrade) or Champions League matches. The atmosphere here is incredible, and I love how the fans support the players and team.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career?

My father inspired me to start playing. He loves the game and took me every Sunday to see his team play. That's how I got a feel for the ball and started enjoying the sport. 

What keeps you motivated in hard times?
I would say my wife, whom I've been married to for a little over three years. She is pregnant with our daughter, whom I need to take care of as she's due in September. I can't wait to see her. I want to do better and better to make my family proud.

What advice do you have for young players?

Young players aiming to play in Europe should learn English to communicate better. I struggled at first with the language but learning it helped me. I also believe many talented Korean players can succeed in Europe. It's beneficial for their development to play abroad, whether at a top league or not.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.