From Seoul to Minsk. Korean football legionnaire talks about life in Belarus, food, and army service

"Call me Arthur"

Journalists met the tall brunette, who looked more like a member of a Korean boy band, at Galleria Shopping Center — and were immediately surprised by his greeting. "Arthur," the footballer says in broken Russian, extending his hand. The interlocutors, of course, were stunned: "What Arthur, when all football protocols list him as Park Jihun?" But the guy calmly sits down at the table and, sometimes stumbling over difficult words, begins to explain everything.

In the early 2000s, his father decided to train as a chef and went to Moscow to get an education, where he met his future wife. After some time, the couple moved to his wife's homeland — Novosibirsk, where the future footballer was born.

— So Arthur is my Russian name. My Korean name is difficult for many to pronounce, so they call me that way, — the guy smiles.

Павялічыць

Unfortunately, Arthur's mother soon passed away, and together with his father, he moved to his father's homeland — Seoul. From early childhood, the boy fell in love with football and dedicated all his free time to sports or spent it with his dad.

— Why was I so interested in football? I don't know. I just constantly played it since childhood. And, probably, at 15 years old I realized that I wanted to become a professional footballer. Although for a while I thought about working in a cafe, but that was still in childhood. In the end, I still chose football. How did dad react? At first, not very well: he said it would be hard, I'd have to train every day and be in good shape. However, he supported me over time.

Arthur began his professional career in South Korea. However, there is high competition among local players, so he and his father decided to try their hand abroad. So, in 2020, the Korean went to Kazakhstan — to the SDYuShOR-8 team.

Later, Arthur could even have joined the famous "Kairat", which recently made quite a stir in European competitions, but the transfer did not happen — there was no place for a legionnaire. As a result, Park returned to the South Korean championship, to "Cheongju" from the fourth league.

— This is a semi-professional championship. But the level there is not bad, as you can find footballers with experience playing in the Premier League. Guys who received a military deferment due to illness played with me, some worked as waiters. They were paid approximately $500-700 there. For the fourth league, these were average salaries.

There were clubs where one could earn more than $2000, and with bonuses for victories — all $3000-4000.

Have any South Korean footballers played in Belarus before?

Before Park, only one Korean played in our championship — Kim Jung-yeon. In 2020, he signed a contract with Minsk "Dynamo", but couldn't establish himself: he played only two matches and left the team in mid-summer.

"I like walking around Nemiga. It's like Europe there"

After playing half a year at home, Park went back to Kazakhstan, then played a bit in Kyrgyzstan and Georgia (for a team from Zugdidi), and in August 2025, signed a contract with FC Minsk.

— Through a Kazakh agent, I met Belarusian manager Vladimir Pakhomenko, and he offered me an option in Belarus. I immediately agreed and flew to Minsk. What were my first impressions? Korea, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan are not like Europe, but here everything is completely different. The weather, people, restaurants — it all resembles the West. I especially like the establishments in the Nemiga area. My dad flew to visit me last year. We walked around, ate pizza, pasta, and we liked it. And I especially like the weather and the clean streets.

I live well in Minsk and really enjoy walking around it, exploring it. I'm glad I ended up here.

Павялічыць

The guy recalls that adapting to the team was difficult at first. He didn't play much, and it was generally hard to get used to. Experienced Eduard Zhavnerov came to his aid in a difficult moment.

— He is a good and not harsh person, — Arthur smiles. — He was the first from the team who started helping me. Edik is a father: he already has a daughter, and Zhavnerov, in my opinion, thinks like an adult. He took me under his wing, helped greatly. Now he's on another team.

— And how do the other guys communicate with you?

— The young ones joke a lot. Our goalkeeper somehow calls me Chinese, although I have nothing to do with them. Another guy makes different faces. I don't really like it, and I tell him so, but I understand that he's just joking.

Belarusians are sterner than Koreans

— Belarusians, in my opinion, are more emotional than Koreans, — Park believes. — The difference is especially noticeable in conflict situations. If something happens, Belarusians can calmly sort it out on the spot — they'll just go their separate ways or make up. That's easy to imagine. In Korea, everything is different. In similar cases — for example, if it comes to a fight — the police will almost certainly be called immediately, and you could get a serious fine. So Koreans understand the consequences and try not to show emotions so openly. They know what it can lead to.

"Football is popular in Korea, hockey in Belarus"

He sees Belarusian footballers as focused on struggle, combat, and good physical preparation.

Павялічыць

— In South Korea, the requirements are even higher in this regard: you have to run more on the field. The league is stronger, after all. And the main difference is that players earn higher salaries there. They can earn $100,000 or even more per month.

— In winter, there were rumors that the best Belarusian footballer Valery Gromyko might go to South Korea — to FC Seoul.

— That's a strong team. This year they had a good run of four consecutive victories. Plus, it's a capital club, which, of course, has many fans: 30-40 thousand spectators can attend matches. I think Seoul is among the top five most popular clubs in the country. But in your country, another sport is more popular — hockey. I recently went to a match between Yunost and Neman. It was my first time at a hockey game, and I really liked it. The game was tough, I even expected a fight to break out, but it passed without one.

"I like Belarusian bread"

In Minsk, Arthur lives at the football club's base, near the "Autozavodskaya" metro station. From time to time, he dines in the city center: he prefers pizzerias and the Coffee Embassy cafe, where he orders a Middle Eastern dish — shakshuka. He usually gets sushi at Ronin and sometimes even visits KFC fast food — buys himself a Boxmaster. When asked about a sports diet, he smiles and replies: "If a little and sometimes, then it's fine."

Павялічыць

He also visited the Korean restaurant "Busan" in the capital. He says they cook well there, but, in his opinion, the food is not entirely similar to real Korean cuisine.

At the same time, Park loves to cook himself and, surprisingly, learned to do it independently, not under the guidance of his chef father. He goes to regular Belarusian stores for groceries and even visits Komarovka market — he buys vegetables and meat there. Most often, he cooks Korean dishes: jeyuk bokkeum (spicy pork fried with sauce and vegetables), samgyeopsal (a dish of grilled pork belly), kimchi jjigae (spicy kimchi stew)...

— From Belarusian food, I like draniki (potato pancakes), potatoes, bread. Well, more often I buy products and cook some Korean dishes from them. When I eat with the team, they sometimes give us pasta, mashed potatoes. And, honestly, in your country, I haven't yet seen dishes I wouldn't want to eat.

But in Central Asia, I encountered something similar — it was horse meat. Tried it once and don't want it again.

Павялічыць

— Are there Korean products in Belarusian stores?

— Practically none. Maybe just sauce. Buldak? (spicy instant noodles. — Onliner's note). But that's not very good food for footballers. I sometimes cook noodles at home, but you shouldn't overdo it. I also saw "Soju" drink here. But it probably has fruit flavors. In Korea, they don't like that — they prefer clear, classic. With additives, it's more suitable for girls.

— And what do you think of Belarusian prices?

— For groceries, they are lower than in South Korea. But as for, for example, sneakers (I bought Nike in Minsk), for a good pair, I had to pay about $200. In Korea, they would cost a hundred.

"I'm preparing for the army — I'll most likely be drafted this winter"

In the new season, Park has already debuted for "Minsk" — he played a match against "Gomel", which ended in his team's victory. So it's quite possible that the coach will continue to rely on the legionnaire. The contract with the club is signed at least until the end of the year — until December 31. What will happen next is still unknown. After all, Park himself doesn't hide it: he is planned to be drafted into the army this winter.

Павялічыць

— After you turn 19, you need to undergo a medical examination every five years. I underwent it last winter (which is why I arrived in Belarus later than I should have) and was found fit. Next winter, I will probably be drafted and will have to serve. Possibly for a year and a half. There are no options. Otherwise, an Interpol search warrant will be issued.

Am I afraid? A little, because I haven't had such an experience in my life yet. But there's no hazing, you're allowed to use a mobile phone at certain times, and they pay money. How much? They plan a thousand dollars.

— I read that athletes are exempt from the army for very high achievements in the international arena. Is that true?

— If the South Korean national team does not take first place in the Asian Championship, then footballers must go to the army. This was the case, for example, with Son Heung-min, who still had to spend some time in the army (underwent three weeks of training in the Marine Corps. — Onliner's note).

Павялічыць

— Perhaps you have an army team like CSKA, where you can serve?

— Yes, "Gimcheon Sangmu". This team plays in the Premier League and took third place last year. Footballers who are doing their military service play for it. Of course, I would also like to get there, but it's very difficult — many people want to. Nevertheless, playing for this team is a small dream of mine. But for now, I'm in Belarus and will try to help my club.

• 5
• 0
• 0
• 1
• 0
• 0
• 0
• 0