"There Are No Adults to Help Us"—Hwang In-beom Finally Breaks Down in Tears... After Kim Min-jae's Fury, Korean Football's Brutal Reality Is Laid Bare

[Financial News] ‘A sense of utter helplessness beyond mere anger. The captain, the defensive core, and the midfield commander are all becoming unwell.’
Hwang In-beom, the "midfield commander" of the South Korea national football team, finally broke down in tears in the mixed zone. His emotional appeal laid bare the team's overall crisis and leadership vacuum—problems that cannot be overcome through the players' dedication alone.
The South Korea national football team, led by interim head coach Robert Moreno, drew 0–0 with Venezuela in a friendly at Ulsan Munsu Football Stadium on the 2nd. Against Venezuela, which was considered weaker on paper, South Korea was thoroughly outplayed in shots, 7–12, in an indefensible display.
Hwang In-beom, making his first start under Moreno, spoke with reporters in the mixed zone, the post-match interview area, and struggled to hide his frustration. It was a different kind of helplessness from that shown by Kim Min-jae of Munich, who had earlier expressed his anger by throwing his soccer cleats toward the bench.

Hwang In-beom began by saying, "My body is tired, and my mind is tired as well." He then added, "I've been with the national team for about nine years, and there have been so many things, in football and in other areas, that needed to change from then until now. But it seems those changes have not happened," swallowing his bitterness.
What troubled Hwang In-beom most was the absence of an "adult" who could shield the players. Asked what kind of help was needed if the team could not overcome its difficulties through the players' efforts alone, he fired back, "There is no one to help us right now."
He said, "The president is currently absent, and the coach has come in on an interim basis, so we do not know what the future holds. That makes things difficult for the players." He continued, "There are also many questions about who can help us. The problems are clearly visible, but no one can step forward, and there is no one to do so," as his eyes welled up with tears. His remarks laid bare how the vacuum at the top of the football association and the instability of an interim head coach have been affecting the entire squad.

Hwang In-beom, who spoke through tears as he said, "I cannot find the answer," also expressed deep sympathy for his teammate Kim Min-jae's angry criticism: "I feel sorry for the defenders." Hwang said, "The defenders at the back really did a great job today. From Min-jae's perspective, it must have been incredibly frustrating." He added, "The players farther forward, myself included, need to step up a little more," taking responsibility himself.
Although he had recently felt discomfort in his muscles, Hwang In-beom played through the pain and lowered his head in the face of the national team's harsh reality. South Korea, drifting without a clear direction, will play Uzbekistan at Yongin Mireu Stadium on the 6th in the final and bruising match of its four-game international series.
[email protected] Jeon Sang-il Reporter