Hwang Hee-chan returns from injury and resumes playing

As one of South Korea's most prominent players, Hwang Hee-Chan's initial hip injury caused concerns for South Korea ahead of the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.

Hwang completely missed the first two matches against Bahrain and Jordan, and after a 2-2 draw with the latter, South Korea found themselves in a precarious position with only four points, risking elimination from the knockout stage.



Surprisingly, despite a disappointing 3-3 draw with Malaysia to conclude Group E, South Korea had done enough to secure a spot in the Round of 16. While the performance against Malaysia was lackluster, it brought some joy with Hwang's return as a substitute in the 62nd minute.

Since then, Hwang's presence and appearances have coincided with the Taeguk Warriors overcoming some tough challenges en route to the semifinals, as they are now just two victories away from an incredible 64-game unbeaten streak and potentially securing their third consecutive Asian championship this year.



While Son Heung-min has undoubtedly been the nation's main figure for the past decade or so, his career leading the country to glory has recently been bolstered by the emergence of star supporters who were previously elusive.

Following rapid rises from Fenerbahçe to Napoli and then to Bayern Munich over consecutive summers, Kim Min-jae is now regarded as one of the best center-backs in European football, while Lee Kang-in has long been seen as a potential world-beater since his days as a prodigious talent at Valencia, now starting to fulfill his promise after moving to Paris Saint-Germain.