Coupang Play variety show 'Next Legend' has finalized the 'best 15' who will lead Korea soccer, and by making the possibility of moving to European leagues a reality, it is delivering extreme tension and anticipation to not only soccer fans but all viewers.
Coupang Play variety show 'Next Legend' is a real survival show where next-generation prospects who will lead the future of Korea soccer earn opportunities to move abroad through fierce competition.
The main cast of 'Next Legend,' the best 15, are an elite group selected after surviving the fierce competition from an initial 44 outstanding prospects, and under the full support of coach Lee Young-pyo and mentor Gareth Bale, they achieved remarkable growth. As a result, they proved their potential on the European stage by drawing 2-2 in an exhibition match against the youth team of the prestigious English club 'Sunderland AFC'.
Won Tae-jin, Im Hyun-seok, Kim Eun-seong, Lee Jae-hyung, Lee Hyo-bin, and Kang Dong-hwi stood out from the start and were repeatedly included in various best lists. In particular, Won Tae-jin, who came from the 'young talent discovery team,' scored the opening goal against Sunderland and put on a blistering performance that swept the exhibition best picks. Kim Eun-seong, who scored the only goal against Brazil, showcased his innate scoring sense by scoring the opening goal in the internal match and stood out. Lee Jae-hyung was praised that "his left foot is like Gareth Bale," and Lee Hyo-bin received high praise from Bale as "the best player," establishing herself as a core asset.
The narratives of players who wrote reversal dramas are also drawing attention. A person surnamed Lee Eun-ho, who overcame the hardships of being unsigned and earned the nickname "Korea Lamine Yamal" with instinctive dribbling, Lee Beom-seong, who was chosen as Team Young-pyo's first pick, and goalkeeper Kim Chan-young, who stood out with overwhelming physicality and skill, are asserting unrivaled presence in their respective positions.
Jung Taek-hyun, Oh Chang-hwan, Lee Ye-jun, Seo Hyun-woo, Noh Jun-hyung, and Park Geon-min are players who achieved rapid growth amid crisis and completed their reversal narratives. Jung Taek-hyun, a scam character nicknamed "top of the class," led his team to victory in the elimination decider, and Oh Chang-hwan was the protagonist who delivered Team Bale's 3-0 win. Lee Ye-jun, who survived as a wildcard, was consecutively selected for the "internal match best 11" and the "Tottenham best 3," emerging as a major prospect.
Seo Hyun-woo and Noh Jun-hyung, who worked a miracle in the repechage, were also called up to the 'Sunderland best 3' in London, rising as the protagonists of the comeback drama. Park Geon-min, who joined by unanimous decision, also scored in the exhibition match, showing the mettle of a late-blooming player. In this way, the process by which the 15 prospects become "legends" through real-match experience foretells a brilliant future for Korea soccer beyond a simple survival show.
Episode 9 of 'Next Legend,' which captures the heated moments when the best 15 challenge their limits to overcome the wall of European soccer, will be released on the 20th (Fri) at 4 p.m.
[Photo] Coupang Play
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