Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Elite Youth Overseas Study Program
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Elite Youth Overseas Study Program.
***
Time flew by, and soon it was Saturday evening.
My sister and I sat in front of the TV.
We could barely contain our excitement at the thought of finally escaping poverty.
And then the first lotto numbers were drawn.
"...Hey."
"Y-Yeah?"
"Why don't the winning numbers match the ones we bought?"
"W-Well, yeah..."
We realized something was wrong.
"Park Jung-ah, to the room of truth."
After a deep conversation in my room, we figured out that this blockhead had mixed up the draw rounds.
"B-But we'll win eventually, right?"
"Yeah? And just when is 'eventually' supposed to be?"
"Uh... I dunno...?"
I swallowed a sigh at Park Jung-ah's words.
I felt bad for Dad, but there was no helping it now.
Until we hit the lotto jackpot, we'd have no choice but to keep at it.
My image was already ruined once anyway.
If a grand sacrifice had to be made, it was only right for Dad to make it.
The sacrifice of the individual for the family.
Once we got the winnings, Dad would surely praise me for it.
***
Lately, Park Young-man had a lot on his mind.
If his coworkers heard, they might say what did he have to worry about with his kids growing up so well (properly?) without any teenage rebellion.
But he had a worry he couldn't share with anyone lately.
The neighborhood folks' gazes toward him had turned icy.
"Don't the neighbors seem kinda cold lately?"
"Really? They've been giving us plenty of food and stuff."
He talked it over with his wife, but her response was vague.
"Hmm... Must be my imagination."
"Anyway, how's the seasoning in the soybean paste stew?"
"Anything Jung-hee makes is delicious."
Even after years of marriage, their passion burned as hot as ever.
Maybe that's why.
Young-man missed the sight of his two problem children slinking away from the table with awkward expressions.
***
My sister and I bought lotto tickets with the same numbers every week.
The supermarket punks started copying us, but after not even hitting fifth prize once, they began dropping off one by one.
"Hey, you bastards! Give me my money back!"
Some lowlifes even demanded we cover their ticket costs after stealing our numbers, shattering any sense of humanity in an instant.
Well, thanks to bystanders holding things back, nothing major happened (to that asshole), but it was still dicey.
Anyway, buying lotto with my sister every Monday evening became part of our routine, and Dad's neighborhood reputation plummeted by the day.
Around the time his rep had sunk so low it couldn't go any further.
I entered high school and shone in the soccer team.
High school level was a bit tough, but thanks to proper training since childhood, I could still compete for a starting spot.
Then, in April 2003.
Association bigwigs visited the field where our match was being played to select players for the Elite Youth Overseas Study Program.
Well, with my infamous name from middle school, it was only natural it'd land on the candidate list for overseas study.
The soccer federation's program scouted nationwide, but the difficulty wasn't as bad as you'd think.
"Everyone remember: I won't tolerate traitors. If you still wanna go study abroad, then go. And while you're at it, debut there. There'll be no room in Korea for traitors anymore."
Most coaches, like ours, gave us a stern warning to the players before kickoff.
"What do we say if the association brings up studying abroad?"
"We'll say we're not going!"
Truth be told, the coach probably had no choice.
A high school coach's worth wasn't in tactics or developing players—it was how many pros or top universities he sent kids to.
If key members bailed for study abroad at a crucial time, keeping his job would be tough.
Since this was the case for most teams, not just ours, everyone was bound to half-ass the games.
"Park Chan-hyuk, got it?!"
"Yes."
Everyone except me.
***
The Elite Youth Overseas Study Program had started in 2002.
Federation staff were busy selecting players to send abroad.
But progress was slower than expected.
High school coaches rebelled, and parents balked at sending minors overseas.
Plus, though not reported in the media, rumors of racial discrimination issues during the study abroad process had reached parents.
And unlike last year, they had to split players to two destinations this time, doubling the staff's workload.
One was Metz in France's Ligue 1, where they'd sent players before. Selection there was easy—the federation recommended someone, and Metz took them without fuss.
The problem was VfB Stuttgart, a mid-to-upper table Bundesliga side.
Unlike FC Metz in Ligue 1, their process was trickier.
Stuttgart's new U19 coach insisted on picking players himself after reviewing match videos.
The federation staffer, used to cozy deals with study abroad parents for "contributions," was understandably miffed.
But he couldn't just reject Stuttgart's offer on his own.
Unlike Ligue 1, the Bundesliga had symbolic prestige—where Cha Bum-geun had starred.
[K-League Prospect Scouted by Bundesliga?]
To promote his achievements, the federation president hounded them daily to make the project happen, come hell or high water.
"Dongseong High's defender Park Chan-hyuk stands out a lot. You might wanna focus on him."
"Yes. Unlike the others we've seen, his physicality is impressive."
***
The ref's whistle blew, and the match kicked off.
Spotting a few foreigners in the stands, the kids tensed up visibly.
Separate from actually going abroad, just knowing Bundesliga scouts were there was enough to rattle the players emotionally.
Well, it made defending easier in a way.
When you tense up, your movements get sloppy and exaggerated.
I easily cut off the opposing striker's dribble.
"Run!"
My eyes met the left winger's, and as I yelled, I slotted a deep pass forward.
"You little shit! I told you to give it to Hyuk-su when I get the ball!"
A barrage of curses flew from the coach at the touchline, but I ignored it.
'What can you do.'
Once I passed the Elite Youth Overseas Study Program, I'd never have to see him again anyway.
Oh, by the way, Hyuk-su was a midfielder, the coach's golden boy. Rich family, federation connections.
Well, if that guy wanted abroad, he'd be the pick.
But no chance.
Few Korean players succeeded overseas back then.
For a kid from money, with guaranteed starts at home versus the wild overseas jungle, motivation for study abroad was zilch.
Anyway, my perfect long pass was denied by the keeper's save.
No assist, disappointing, but whatever.
"It's fine! Good job! We'll get it in next time!"
What mattered now was showing I encouraged my teammates.
All in all.
I was in top form, delivering perfect plays on both ends.
"Park Chan-hyuk, you mocking me?"
Right after the whistle, the coach "disciplined" me with a beating.
'Fuck. Asshole. I'll get revenge someday.'
***
A few days later.
Stuttgart, Germany.
Thomas Tuchel, newly appointed U19 coach, selected his player from videos flown in from the East.
A normal coach might delegate, but not Tuchel.
He was a workaholic.
Plus, he needed to watch himself to justify rejecting anyone.
Unlike the club's request to pick a few for Asian market promo, Tuchel had zero intention of selecting marketing filler if no one impressed him.
"Not bad physicals for an Asian."
"Adjusting teammates' positions shows he's got a good head on him."
But midway through the footage, a promising kid caught his eye.
"This one's it."
And so, the final study abroad list was penned by Thomas Tuchel's hand.
***
[High School Prospect Heads Overseas for Soccer Studies.]
The Korea Football Association and Korea Youth Soccer Foundation, as part of the Elite Youth Overseas Study Program started in 2002 to unearth prospects, will send four second-batch players on July 29, 2003, for about a year: three to Ligue 1 in France and one to Bundesliga's Stuttgart.
Park Chan-hyuk (Korean age 17) is drawing the most attention, having been personally selected by Stuttgart's U19 coach.