Director Cho Won-hee takes charge of Gucheok Jangshin, aiming to escape last place

The atmosphere of FC Gucheok Jangshin, which plummeted to the bottom last season after conceding 20 goals, has taken a turn. In the SBS 'Goalympics Ride the Stars' episode airing on July 22, FC Gucheok Jangshin and FC Balladream will face off in the third match of the 2nd GIFA Cup. To break the chain of defeat, Gucheok Jangshin has taken a desperate stand by appointing Cho Won-hee, known as 'Korea's Gattuso,' as their new leader.

Determination forged through 'Jo-parta' style intensive training

Newly appointed manager Cho Won-hee sought immediate changes to stabilize the depressed team atmosphere. Expressing a strong will to allow no excuses from the players, he implemented 'Jo-parta' style special training to boost both the players' physical strength and mental fortitude. Manager Cho showed such obsession with the players that he declared, "If you are busy, I will come to your doorstep to coach you one-on-one." On the day of the match, captain Lee Hyun-yi bolstered the team's fighting spirit by sending over 100 advisory messages to her teammates since dawn. Having felt such deep responsibility that she even contemplated leaving the show, Lee Hyun-yi felt the change, stating that Manager Cho's passionate coaching felt "like the fog is lifting."

Manager Cho Won-hee's tactical guidance continued with a confident speaking style. His gestures and eloquence, which heated up the atmosphere in the locker room, led the players to self-reflection, which soon translated into passion on the pitch. While former manager Kim Young-kwang visited the site to offer support, the Gucheok Jangshin players prepared for a rebellion from the bottom, reflecting on the messages delivered by Manager Cho.

Jung Ye-won and Balladream's head-to-head showdown amidst support from an older sister nearing childbirth

The opposing team, FC Balladream, also blocks Gucheok Jangshin's path by boasting formidable strength. Having overcome the pain of being released in the past to write a championship legend, Balladream is aiming for a perfect victory this time to prove their reputation as 'Gucheok Killers.' Notably, in this match, Jung Ye-won's older sister visited the stadium in her late stages of pregnancy, heightening the atmosphere on site.

Receiving support from her sister, who is about a week away from giving birth, Jung Ye-won's eyes welled up as she said, "My sister raised me instead of our mother, who passed away early. I want to be a great source of strength to my sister, who will soon become a mother." Meanwhile, Hong Seong-gi, the husband who came to the stadium to cheer for Gucheok Jangshin's Lee Hyun-yi, joked, "It wouldn't even count as a marital spat," while watching his wife show extraordinary determination even before the match. Once the match began, Hong Seong-gi continued to cheer, becoming deeply immersed in the game from the stands.

Support from families visiting the site

Lee Hyun-yi's husband, Hong Seong-gi, visited the stadium to cheer. Looking at his wife Lee Hyun-yi, who was radiating extraordinary determination even before the match, Hong Seong-gi joked, "It wouldn't even count as a marital spat." Once the match started, he became deeply immersed in the game from the stands.

Jung Ye-won's older sister also visited the site in her late stages of pregnancy. Jung Ye-won shared, "My sister raised me instead of our mother, who passed away early. I want to be a great source of strength to my sister, who will soon become a mother."