Oh leaves Korea to join Scottish giants Celtic
Formed the ‘Korean Trio’ with Oh Hyun-gyu and Kwon Hyuk-gyu 먹튀검증
Yang Hyun-jun (21-Gangwon FC), who showed off his skills in a friendly against Tottenham Hotspur (England) last summer as part of the K-League selection team, has fulfilled his dream of playing in Europe by joining Scottish side Celtic.
Yang, who left the country via Incheon International Airport on the night of the 19th to finalise the transfer process, including medical tests, said: “It’s a shame I couldn’t finish the season. I feel very sorry for the coach and my brothers,” he said, “so I think I should go and do better.”
When asked to name a senior player who nurtured his dream of reaching Europe, Yang mentioned Park Ji-sung (current director of Jeonbuk). “I started to like football when Park Ji-sung played (in the English Premier League-EPL), and I developed my dream,” Yang said, “I think I have Park Ji-sung in my heart.”
At Celtic, international striker Oh Hyun-kyu, who is a year older than Yang Hyun-joon, joined in January and is well established. Similarly, Kwon Hyuk-kyu (Busan), who is a year younger, is almost certain to join Celtic and left for England the same night.
That’s three Korean players playing for the same team. In addition, Celtic now has five Japanese players who share a similar culture to Korea. “Hyun-gyu and I were always in contact,” said Yang. Since the transfer rumours started, I’ve been in touch with him a lot, and he told me to come over as soon as I was bored and that he would take care of me. I don’t think I have to worry about adjusting because I have Hyun-gyu’s brother,” he laughed.
“He told me that the Scottish league is very tough, so I need to be careful of injuries and never get discouraged,” he said, adding, “I’m keeping my head up.”
As for his goals in the Scottish Premiership, he was reticent, saying only that he would “adapt as quickly as possible”.
“I want to go to the EPL, but I think I have to be the best player in the Scottish Premiership to get there,” he said, referring to the ‘final destination’ for most players.
Next year is the Paris 2024 Olympic Games. For Yang, who has yet to complete his military service, it’s a chance he can’t pass up. “I don’t think going to the Olympics is a given. “I have to do well at Celtic this season and show Hwang Sunghong that I’m good enough to be selected,” he says. “Firstly, I have to settle in well at Celtic. Then I will show what kind of player I am,” he reiterated.