Kwon Hyeok-Kyu / 권혁규

He knows his legends

 

Let’s fight together in Paradise … surprised how good his english is already tbh

 

Really like him already...

 

I like what i see on his highlights, looks really aggressive and takes no prisoners

 

New Celtic signing Hyeokkyu Kwon is ready to “fight” for Celtic after penning a bumper five-year deal with the Scottish champions.


The 22-year-old midfielder, along with fellow new signing, Hyunjun Yang, will join up their countryman, Hyeongyu Oh as a Korean contingent in Brendan Rodgers’ squad.

Kwon admits playing for Celtic has always been a dream of his and he now can’t wait to get started as he looks to emulate Korean stars of the past.

He explained: “I am very happy to join this club. It is a big honour for me and now I am a Celtic player I am ready to fight. Let’s fight together in Paradise!



“I am a fighter. My position is a defensive midfielder, I like to cut out opponents' offences. I like to play and pass forward.

“I am well aware there are a lot of good Celtic players and very offensive team players and because I’m a defensive midfielder I am pretty sure that I can be a great support.

“Because I can also attack and be offensive myself, I expect to see a lot of synergy and teamwork.”

Kwon also explained how working alongside Oh and Yang will help him to settle into life in Glasgow as he looks to hit the ground running from the off.

He added: “So I think it’s much better than being alone as a Korean. Especially with communication, it’s easier for me to communicate with players not only outside but also on the pitch.

“It will definitely help me settle in at Celtic.

“I am well aware that Celtic is one of the biggest clubs and since I was a youth player I always watched Celtic matches because of Ki Sung-Yueng and Cha Du-Ri.

“It is one of my dreams to become a part of this club so I’m very much looking forward to playing here.”

 

It's interesting and exciting to see these players coming. I've never heard of any of them but I have more trust in our recruitment department than I've had since the days of John Park.

 

I hope he boots * out of that wee gimp Cuntwell.

 

A Korean midfielder who played for the Army side?

He'll be hard as *. Cuntwell won't go near him.

 

Agree. Seems to have a fantastic attitude, for one thing.

 

Hopefully see him for an hour against Wolves or Athletic Bilbao, maybe the Bilbao game if its more of a B team being only a few days before the League starts.

I usually hate friendlies but never seeing any the new guys it's interesting for a change to have signed this many guys while still in pre-season, seems we used to sign most * in August as I feel like you never really seen new signings in pre-season.

 

Another translator, that will have more medals than Tavpen next season.

 

Everything new Celtic signing Hyeokkyu Kwon to say in his first press conference after being unveiled at Parkhead.

How excited are you to be at Celtic?

I am so excited to be at this club, where I always watched on television where Ki Sung-yueng and Cha Du-ri play.

What are your memories of watching both those players play?

I remember watching Ki Sung-yueng, who is one of my favourite ever players, score from a long-distance shot and I would like to do that.

Did Oh signing in January heighten the interest in Celtic in Korea?

Celtic is obviously one of the Champions League teams so they are already well known in Korea. That is one of the reasons it was on my dream clubs.

What has your initial impression of Celtic been?

It is all very new to me, in terms of the club and Scotland as a country, but thanks to the club and its staff, who were friendly to me, I feel very welcome. They have made me feel very comfortable and I feel I can show my best at Celtic.

Does it excite you that you can link up with a player like Yang?

I am very excited because I have experience with Yang as a player from the under-23 national team and I know he is a very good player. As a midfielder, I am looking forward to assisting one of his goals.

How much are you looking forward to playing in the Champions League?

The Champions League has always been a dream for me but I am very confident that I can do well and it is very good chance for me to improve as a player so when a chance is given I will do my best.





Are you ready to come in and help the club win more trophies?

I know it was a successful season last year and I know because of that a lot of fans are having high expectations but I personally think it is a new season with a new manager and I want to focus on this season. I think we can have good results.

Can you explain your style of play?

I am the type of player who can press hard and put pressure on the opponent. I am very good at intercepting balls and building up the process and giving the ball to attacking players.

Was working with Brendan Rodgers an attractive prospect?

I do not have experience in the Scottish Premiership but I have experience in the K2 League and I look forward to bringing what I can for the new manager.

Was it always a dream for you to play in Europe?

Yes, it was always my dream to come to a big European club and that is why I had to sort out my military issue in Korea. I am very honoured to be here and I think it is a new chance for me to show who I am.

 

I’m really excited to see what he can do.

 

Will only be funny if you’ve heard the original in full

 

New Celtic signing Kwon lifts lid on military training, Zadok The Priest in car and Rodri comparison
As Celtic prepare to defend their domestic treble, new recruit Kwon Hyeok-kyu has a different kind of understanding of what battling it out for silverware out may mean.



As is customary in South Korea, there is a year-and-a-half national service requirement for men to complete once they reach the age of 18. Kwon has come through the other side of that and admitted that if has given him a different appreciation of the life he has as a footballer, it has also given him a different kind of mentality.

“We would all wake up early and go for a jog,” he said. “In the mornings we would do normal soldier training, army training, and in the afternoon we prepared for our matches and trained as a soccer player. In late evening I would do my own personal work-outs. You can think of it easily as a football player in the army. At first it was difficult to adapt to that life but I got used to it. I think because of it I can bring a soldier mentality on the pitch which is definitely helpful.”




The military training did not interfere with the 22-year-old’s ambitions of making a name for himself in European football. Indeed, car journeys to training at his former club Busan IPark were spent listening to Handel’s Zadok The Priest, a score that causes as much excitement at Celtic Park as it did for the young midfielder who adopted a philosophy of positive prophecy. And his vision is not limited to simply making an appearance in Europe’s premier competition.

"When I was playing at my former club I always had the Champions League song playing in my car,” he smiled. “When you repeat it, I think it then becomes true. I have my chance now to play in the Champions League and I want to become a legendary player here. This positive attitude is what I will take to training every day. I always dreamed of playing at a European club and I just want to do my best on the pitch.”

Kwon watched last season’s game against Real Madrid at Celtic Park, an encounter he was appreciative of despite the adversity of the result for what was then Ange Postecoglou’s side. He also spoke of his admiration for fellow countryman and former Celt Ki Sung-yueng but he is more focused on establishing his own name in Glasgow. There were some lofty comparisons made with his style of play to that of Manchester City and Spanish midfielder Rodri, something he was smart enough to distance himself from. "I am very happy to hear these compliments but I know that I still have a long way to go to become a player like Rodri,” he said. “I think I can improve a lot at Celtic and one day I want to become not Celtic Rodri but Celtic Kwon.”



Whatever he does in the games against Rangers will go a significant way to establishing the status that he is held in by the green side of the city. Although one suspects that he has not quite grasped the full significance of these meetings just yet. I am aware it is a long history and a traditional derby between the teams,” he said. “For me, it is a normal league match and I want to focus on each game. I think that is what brings good results.”