Kim Jong-kook travels to Nagoya to cheer for the Korea-Japan Asian Games match... An away trip with Park Joo-ho

Singer Kim Jong-kook visited Nagoya, Japan, to cheer for the football final between South Korea and Japan at the Asian Games. Kim Jong-kook embarked on this away trip to keep a past promise made to national football player Ji-su, saying he would go to cheer if they reached the final.

Traveling to Nagoya to keep a promise, the sold-out Korea-Japan match site

Kim Jong-kook shared his journey in Nagoya through his YouTube channel 'Kim Jong-kook GYM JONG KOOK'. Although demand for the Asian Games final tickets was initially expected to be low, it drew intense interest, resulting in a sell-out after the Korea-Japan match was confirmed. Kim Jong-kook prepared for on-site cheering by securing tickets with the help of an acquaintance from Sejoong travel agency.

Park Joo-ho, a member of Tiger FC who visited the site as an SBS commentator, also joined this journey. Park Joo-ho continued his preparations for commentary, predicting that while the average age of the Japanese players is one or two years lower than South Korea's, the Japanese team would face pressure from the advantage of being the home team and the support of the local crowd. Kim Jong-kook noted the tension the players might feel while checking the heat of the scene.

Nagoya's night streets and Park Joo-ho's commentary preparation

Upon arriving in Nagoya, the group explored the city's brilliant scenery and the atmosphere of its alleys. Kim Jong-kook expressed admiration for the downtown scenery of Nagoya, lined with luxury streets and flashy buildings, and shared views of alleys crowded with taverns and streets with various foods. The group stayed at the Comfort Hotel in Nagoya, mentioning that due to the impact of the Asian Games, it cost about 250,000 won per night.

During a meal, they enjoyed eel rice bowls, a local Japanese food, while talking. In particular, Park Joo-ho, who has experience in Japan, appeared familiar with the local food culture and atmosphere. Park Joo-ho discussed commentary strategies based on the flow of the match with Kim Jong-kook, including the tone of the commentary that would change depending on the win or loss and the materials that need to be prepared. He showed his sense of responsibility as a commentator, saying, "When there is a big victory, we must be moved together, and when it is a tight match, we must capture that flow." He added that he must capture the feeling of the scene according to the flow of the match and prepare materials in advance so as not to be flustered.

Sincerity toward football and the lingering emotions of the scene

Kim Jong-kook showed his deep affection for football. He mentioned, "Excluding football is truly real," expressing his heart to cheer for the players regardless of the match result. He also congratulated the achievement of the beach volleyball team advancing to the round of 16 and added words of gratitude to all the national team players participating in the Asian Games.

While finishing the schedule by walking through the night streets of Nagoya, Kim Jong-kook observed the vibrant atmosphere of the city. Unlike Tokyo or Osaka, Nagoya is a city located in the middle, and Kim Jong-kook looked at the flashy downtown area along with streets for young people and alleys with many taverns. This visit was recorded as a journey beyond a simple trip, to fulfill a past promise and directly witness the heat of the sports scene.

Source: original video (YouTube)