Korean legend Hong Myung-Bo going to L.A. Galaxy

yes

Is this heresay or can you actually claim a source? I've just checked some soccer websites and haven't seen a thing...

Like now?

Isn't the season nearly complete?

Is he the defender? Or the striker?

I can't keep up.

I heard he is not coming here because his Korean club won't let him go.

I think it is from that English "Sirshootalot" guy site. according to the site, his club team won,t let go to LA .

It's too close to Leno's studio.

RS

HwarangDo posted this in the Asian forumas well and his information is incorrect. The source he got from is in Korean and I'm not sure if he actually read the article.

Korea_Fighting gave an accurate translation saying Pohang officials are meeting with LA/MLS to discuss a possible move but nothing is a done deal.

in light of this, this thread is moved.

wow another great signing by MLS seeing as how many of the other "legends" did so great in MLS (Limpar, Mattehus, former Mutiny keeper, Hermosillio, and of course Hernandez...i also apologize for some of the spelling of the names)...but another great thing is the Galaxy have to cut one of there young american prospects, real smart MLS

Have you seen some of our American "prospects" (I use that term very loosely)?

I'd take the bronze ball winner over Isais Bardales or Jesus Ochoa ANY freakin' day of the week.

Do you know how many Koreans live in LA? Did you see how committed they are to their national players? If he brings an extra 2000 fans a game it would be worth it. And what if he brings in an extra 5K for some games.
I don't know how old he is but I'm sure he can play MLS quality for a year or two as good as any US rookie.

Just for reference this guy is 33.

and a world-class defender. at 33 you can expect at least 2 more top notch seasons from the man. i would say that this is a good move, as he is talented and not world reknown (ala mattheus). plus there is a sizable korean population in socal that would be inclined to show up for games, and unlike the mexicans who were supposed to come out in full force for hernandez, the koreans actually would. i believe they had korean night over in la and 5k showed up... to watch a bunch of white, latino, and black guys play.

Great news if it actually happens. He's an awesome defender, so if he can get over the communication problems I'm sure he'll be an excellent defender in one of the spots that LA desperately needs help.

I hope it happens.

-Tron

Yeah, all those Koreans in LA that are sitting around saying "You know, if the Galaxy would just hire a Korean player I would bring my 1500 relatives to every single damn game."

If you are Korean and live in the LA area please raise your hand if you are aware that LA has a professional soccer team. Wait, better yet, raise your hand if you are aware that there is a sport called soccer/football.

He apparently also won the Bronze Boot as the best defender at the WC. Didn't even know they had such an award, but that's what the LAT says. http://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/la-sp-galaxy25aug25.story?coll=la-headlines%

Like Hermosillo and Hernandez when they came to MLS, he's probably near the end of his career. Unlike those two, he's still playing at a very high level and seems to really want to come to MLS. Who knows if the Koreans would really come out on a regular basis for league games, but at least the Galaxy would get a class defender who wants to be there.

The World Cup Finals were only two months ago. And people already forgot.....

Bronze Boot is for third-best player, not best defender.

even better...

Yes but there are Korean newspapers to tell them that he is coming and that yes LA does in fact have a team. I'm not sure if those papers are reporting much about the Galaxy now or not, but his presence would make them a big story.

Also Korea Team Fighting was the big fad this year, and many Korean Americans were unable to get in on it, so seeing him play would be their way of doing it. I'd expect something like Nomo-mania but at a smaller scale. In case you don't remember or don't follow baseball, whenever he pitched his first 2-3 years, Dodger stadium would be a sell out with the added boost almost exclusively Japanese. This also often occured in visiting stadiums with having a "Nomo" boost in attendance. And remember DC and NY have very large Korean populations as well. I think it would be good for the league.

Plus, the BIGGEST reason for wanting him in the league, he is a quality player.

Since LAG has been the poster child for ethnic pandering (Campos, Hernandez, Hermosillo) this is not a surprise. Long time LAG fans have learned to be sceptical about moves like this, but certainly it seems like this guy can play so there is optimism. And for a team that has a history of being a little soft, some of that Korean Team Fighting spirit would be good if it could rub off on others.

LA had a "Korean Heritage" promo earlier this season, and it did draw a surprising 3,500-4000 red-shirted Koreans for that game. I can't fault the front office for wanting to tap that market - particularly where no other sports franchise in LA has aimed specifically at the Korean community (which, if you didn't realize it, is huge in LA and coming into its own economically).

I guess you've never heard of Chan Ho Park. The Dodgers have been masters of ethnic targeting for over 40 years. The difference is that they realize the players have to actually play well.

I don't really blame MLS for the Hermosillo and Hernandez debacles. I expected both to do well. One lesson is that you can't have these guys play both for MLS and a Mexican team. If that's the only way to afford it, then forget it!

Chan Ho is in Texas and was a non-factor for about 2 years. There was no Dodger marketing built around him, mainly because he stunk and everybody knew it.

Don't think we have to worry about the Korean import playing Mexican club soccer.

Hong is going to realize --like I did-- that LA, despite its pollution, crime, traffic, population, etc..., is one of the most exciting, hospitable and enjoyable cities of the world...

Don't you agree?