Jo Sung-hyup in junior high school who only knew soccer. Photo courtesy of Jo Sung-hyup
“I still miss the time to kick the ball and I can’t sleep because it’s unfair.”
The voice of Mr. Sung-hyup, 21, who met at a cafe in Namdong-gu, Incheon on the 4th, trembled, but was clear. When I took out a picture of the past, tears gathered around my eyes. Cho, who was once a football dreamer, has been working at a factory in Incheon since last January. After taking off his soccer shoes last year, he left his hometown of Busan and came here. It’s because he doesn’t want to put any pressure on his father, who has been supporting him all his life. The son who was happy to kick the ball with his parents who ran a small rice cake shop. It was Do Hwa-seong, 40, a football senior, whom Cho called’teacher’, who shattered the dreams of these families.
High school dropout for proposal to Europe
Cho Sung-hyup (left) and his father. Photo courtesy of Jo Sung-hyup
After the first 6th grade in elementary school wearing soccer boots, Cho has been kicking the ball in Busan all the time. As a left defender, he is said to have been a promising player. An unexpected proposal came to him, who was devoted to training in the high school soccer team in 2017. It was Do Hwa-seong, a former professional soccer player. Mr. Do said, “I am a big company, so I can join the Croatian soccer team.”
To go to Croatia, I had to quit high school. At school, Mr. Cho was forced to drop out, saying, “Where are you going at the most important time?” The amount was also a burden. Mr. Do demanded 60 million won in return. Cho’s father had a hard time raising money for his son’s dream, and Jo’s challenge began.
In May of that year, Mr. Cho left for Croatia with a puffy dream. But the reality was different from the promise. Cho, who had barely participated in training rather than playing in the game, returned to Korea after a month. At that time, Mr. Do said, “Let’s return to Korea first because the league is coming to an end and there are few opportunities because it’s holiday season.” It was a proposal to study English in the Philippines and get a high school diploma. Mr. Do requested an additional 2 million won in the name of going to the Philippines. However, the Philippine language academy recommended by Doh did not give him a diploma. Again, Mr. Jo had to return without income. Mr. Cho said, “Do Hwaseong did not explain properly, but rather asked my father to pay 2 million won again, saying that he had to go to Japan with me to watch an important game.”
I had no choice but to believe in my suspicious behavior.
A contract signed by Do Hwa-seong and Jo Sung-hyup’s father. Photo courtesy of Jo Sung-hyup
Mr. Do’s stupid words and actions continued. In July of that year, he asked for money again. Since Mr. Cho signed a two-year contract with the Serbian professional football team for an annual salary of 100 million won, he asked for 15 million won as a success reward. At the time, Mr. Do showed the foreign language contract in the envelope and insisted that “Mr. Jo will be officially joining in 2018 when he becomes an adult.” At the time, the document contained the details of the contract, not the contents of the contract for Mr. Cho, but the contents explaining the form of contract when he became an adult.
Cho believed in Do, and from August 2017 to April of the following year, he fought back and forth between Croatia and Korea, playing several teams. I couldn’t get the support, so I even solved the meals myself. At that time, I learned that Mr. Do had been expelled from the K-League game, but he had no choice but to trust Mr. Do, who took over the contract. Mr. Do explained that he did not participate in the game, it was just an involvement.
As the date of joining the Serbia club in May 2018, the date promised came, but Mr. Do did not move. He made Mr. Cho stay at a domestic soccer facility and delayed his departure until autumn. The situation was hidden from Cho’s father. It wasn’t until October 20 of that year that Mr. Do got on the plane with Mr. Cho. The destination was Croatia, not Serbia. When Jo, who couldn’t stand, protested strongly, Mr. Do said, “If you want to continue playing football, follow my words.” After leaving the dormitory secretly, Jo barely returned to Korea with the help of his father.
法 “The crime is bad,” Mr. Do is arrested in court
Cho Sung-hyup (right) is undergoing a joining test in a Swedish professional team. Photo courtesy of Jo Sung-hyup
As the situation got bigger, Mr. Do went on a probation saying that he would return the money, but even this was overdue. Eventually, Mr. Cho’s father took legal action, and at the end of 2019, Mr. Do was handed over to trial on charges of fraud. During the trial process, Mr. Do argued that “Mr. Jo was able to join the soccer team, but he disappeared by himself and could not join,” but the court did not accept it. Judge Sang-woo Kim, who was the sole criminal officer of the Incheon District Court, announced on the 7th that he sentenced Do to one year and six months in prison. The judge said, “Mr. Doh received 79 million won from the victim’s father as a bait for joining the European football team, and the crime was quite bad.” Mr. Mr. denies the crime and does not show reflection, so there is a need for severe punishment.” Mr. Do appealed against the ruling.
“I want to go back to the soccer world someday”
Cho Sung-hyup is working at a factory in Namdong-gu, Incheon. Photo courtesy of Jo Sung-hyup
“I want to give up everything and people are scared.” At a young age, the wounds suffered by seniors in the soccer world were great. I lost confidence in everything, not just football. Health also deteriorated due to the battle that led to the trial. It was a word from his father that raised Mr. Cho, who was in disappointment, to stand up. “If you sit down here, you lose to Do Hwaseong.” I didn’t want to disappoint my family anymore. So, Mr. Jo stood again at the starting line of the second act of his life. He means that he will do anything and live hard like a wickedness. “I only knew soccer, so I’m not sure what I want to do yet. But later, I want to become a soccer coach or agent and help players in difficult situations like me.”
Reporter Shim Seok-yong [email protected]
