Ulsan’s Captain: A Man on a Mission
Kim Young-Gwon, the battle-hardened Ulsan HD captain, has one message for his teammates as they board the plane to the United States: “You can’t just prepare. You have to be obsessed to survive.”

Speaking at Incheon International Airport before departure for the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, Kim, 35, laid out his fierce mentality for the tournament that will pit Ulsan against some of the world’s best.

“You Have to Be Obsessed”
“Any player will tell you they prepare hard for any game,” he said. “But if you want results at the Club World Cup, it’s not enough. You have to live and breathe football. Prepare more than ever before. Only then can you get the results on the pitch. While we’re in the US, we need to be absolutely obsessed.”

A New-Look Tournament
Ulsan HD, representing Korea, are drawn in Group F alongside South African champions Mamelodi Sundowns, Brazilian giants Fluminense, and German powerhouse Borussia Dortmund. Their campaign kicks off on 18 June against Sundowns at the Inter&Co Stadium in Orlando at 7am local time.

It’s not Kim’s first taste of the Club World Cup — he featured in the 2013 and 2015 editions — but the format is different this time.

“Back then it was almost straight into knockouts,” he explained. “Now, it’s a proper group stage, like a mini World Cup for clubs. You get three matches to fight for a place in the round of 16, just like at the World Cup.”

The Scale of the Challenge
For Kim, it’s more than just another tournament.

“I told my friends this is basically a World Cup for clubs,” he said, laughing. “We’ve got 32 teams here. It’s massive. People back home might not know about it, but it’s a huge chance for us as players.”

Balancing K League and Club World Cup
He also revealed that Ulsan’s coaching staff have been working tirelessly to get the players ready, even with the demands of the K League season.

“Until last week we were still playing league games,” Kim noted. “Only after that last match could we really start focusing on the Club World Cup. The coaches and players have been talking a lot about how we want to play.”

Bringing the Spirit of Qatar
Asked about his World Cup experience with Korea in 2022 — when the Taeguk Warriors famously reached the round of 16 — Kim said he’s hoping to carry that spirit into this tournament.

“I definitely want to bring the energy from Qatar,” he said. “This tournament feels like the World Cup to me. And the next real World Cup is in the US too. I want to approach it the same way.”

Analysing the Opposition
Ulsan face a formidable challenge in the group, including Dortmund’s new star striker Serhou Guirassy. But Kim insists they’ll be prepared.

“We’re analysing everything like it’s a World Cup,” he said. “Every player’s movements. When we’re in the US, we’ll even study the subs. We have to be that detailed. That’s how you increase your chances of winning.”

Carrying the K League Banner
As the captain, Kim is also acutely aware that Ulsan are carrying the flag for K League football.

“I want to show the world that K League teams can really compete at this level,” he said. “We might be unknown to some people, but we want to change that. We’re ready to give everything. Watch us.”

Eyes on the Prize
Ulsan HD’s Club World Cup journey begins on 18 June against Mamelodi Sundowns. For Kim Young-Gwon, it’s more than a tournament — it’s a mission to prove K League’s strength on the world stage.