Jung Kyung-ho, Head Coach of Kangwon FC/Korea Professional Football League

[MyDaily = Seoul World Cup Stadium, Reporter Choi Byung-jin] Coach Jung Kyung-ho of Kangwon FC was seen using a megaphone.

In the K League 1 2025 round 34 match, Kangwon FC was defeated 2-4 by FC Seoul at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 26th.

The comeback loss was unexpected for Kangwon. During the first half, Kangwon exerted significant forward pressure, which challenged Seoul's attack development. This approach allowed Kangwon to control the game through a coordinated build-up, resulting in a goal by Kim Gun-hee in the first half and another by Mo Jae-hyun from a penalty kick at the start of the second half.

Nonetheless, beginning in the 27th minute of the second half, Kangwon allowed three goals within a span of seven minutes, resulting in their defeat. Lingard scored twice, followed by Ryu Jae-moon's goal, and Chun Sung-hoon secured the win with a final goal.

Post-match, Kangwon's traveling supporters handed a megaphone to Coach Jung, reflecting broader concerns beyond this specific loss to Seoul.

Recently, a pattern has emerged where Kangwon's performance in the first half contrasts sharply with their second-half results. Coach Jung's game plan proves effective initially, but the team struggles in the later stages of matches.

Kangwon FC/Korea Professional Football League

In a match against FC Anyang (Round 32), Kangwon conceded a late equalizer after leading 1-0. Against Daegu FC, a 2-0 lead ended in a 2-2 draw. In the AFC Champions League Elite (ACLE) game versus Vissel Kobe, Kangwon's 3-0 halftime advantage culminated in a 3-3 draw, despite securing victory through Kim Gun-hee's late goal. These sequences of events contributed to the disappointing defeat against Seoul.

Fans of Kangwon expressed dissatisfaction with these performances, prompting Coach Jung to address them with a megaphone. During the press conference, Coach Jung acknowledged the fans' sentiments, stating, "The fans likely feel more disappointed than we do. They consistently urge us to perform better in the second half. I take responsibility and plan to address these issues."

While enhancing second-half performance is a priority, opinions differ on the decision to present Coach Jung with a megaphone. Last season, Kangwon achieved an unexpected runner-up finish and has now reached Final A consecutively. They currently hold third place in the ACLE with 6 points from 2 wins and 1 loss. A K League official questioned whether the criticism is proportionate, considering Kangwon's achievements and club stature.

Jung Kyung-ho, Head Coach of Kangwon FC/Korea Professional Football League

A significant factor in Seoul's turnaround was the quality of their substitute players. This season, Kangwon has faced limitations regarding foreign players, with this match being no exception. While Lingard significantly impacted the game, Kangwon lacked foreign substitutes due to Gabriel's suspension from yellow card accumulation. This raises the question of the feasibility of maintaining strong results with a predominantly domestic lineup. An official noted, "This is Coach Jung's first official season in charge." While improving second-half strategies and substitute decisions are tasks for Coach Jung, a balanced viewpoint is essential.

Coach Jung also expressed his commitment to improvement, stating, "I am dedicating significant effort to analyzing our opponents," and emphasized, "Our historical performance shows progress, having been runners-up last year and reaching Final A this year." He acknowledged the fans' aspirations for higher achievement and pledged to enhance second-half play, calling for unified support from stakeholders.