FairPoint host Steve Han is joined by pioneering Asian football writer John Duerden, whose writing since the early 2000s has inspired generation of football fans across Asia. John has been telling stories of Asian and Korean football for three decades now.
An author of four books, John's journalistic work can be found in The Guardian, BBC, ESPN, World Soccer, and AP just to name a few. Also, check out his Substack, How Football Explains Asia. We connected with John to talk about the perennially tumultuous state of Korean football.
(3:32) John's relationship with Korea
(7:45) Korea under Hong Myung-bo
(11:16) Japan, the best team in Asia?
(15:53) How has Korean football changed?
(20:26) The KFA mess and Korean football's deeper issues
(26:47) "The KFA is the product of Korean culture"
(33:48) Does Korean football "deserve" success?
(38:02) Hope for Korean football beyond the World Cup
Links to John Duerden's work
How Football Explains Asia via Substack: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/
The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnduerden
X / Twitter: https://x.com/JohnnyDuerden
FairPoint
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairpointfootball/
Steve Han
Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/realstevescores
X / Twitter: https://x.com/realstevescores
The lads return to review a very successful international break where Korea left the states with a win and a draw against USA and Mexico.
With a lot to review, Steve, Kevin, and Roy talk about the match and match experience of both exhibitions in Harrison and Charlotte. With a novel 3 at the back system displayed over two games, the crew digs into personal performances, the development of Sonny and Minjae's roles in this team - and key takeaways from these two performances.
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준
ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM
Kevin and Steve return to mark a landmark transfer for the most iconic Korean footballer in recent history.
The MLS comes with its own stigma, but the two delve into the intricacies that make this transfer a noticeably football oriented move, despite all the buzz that has come with it.
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준
FairPoint's Steve Han and Joon Lee met with Maya Yoshida in February 2025 to talk about his wealth of experience as former Japan national team captain.
Yoshida opened up about his ambition to improve player welfare in Japan, what motivated him to play in Europe for more than a decade as one of Japan's first central defenders abroad, and how Japan's rivalry with Korea has motivated him.
Steve Han holds it down for the Fairpoint crew alongside special guest Ryo Nakagawara, as they review the 2025 East Asian Cup - a four team tournament consisting of Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @r_by_ryo, RYO NAKAGAWARA
If you're looking for more J-League / Japanese football content, look no further than RYO's substack: https://www.shogunsoccer.com/
Joel Kim is in the mix with Steve, Roy, and Kevin as they review Korea's final AFC Qualifying performances v. Iraq and Kuwait, which secures Korea's place in the North American World Cup next summer.
The crew assesses the current state of the national team, especially considering the fresh faces involved in Korea's most recent victories, and ponder some general questions. Can Kim Jin-gyu fill in for Park Yong-woo? How differently is Lee Jae-sung utilized by Hong Myung-bo as opposed to Paulo Bento and Klinsmann?
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준
x: @KNTFootball, JOEL KIM
ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM
Steve, Roy, and Kevin round up their conversation on expectations of the upcoming Asian World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Kuwait.
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준
ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM
Episode 3 of FairPoint English.
Steve, Kevin, and long-time Korean football diehard, Roy Ghim of the Taegeuk Tavern, get together to discuss the end of the season for some of our most successful Korean players abroad - including Son Heung-min and his historic Europa League triumph with Tottenham.
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준
ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM
Episode 2 of FairPoint English.
Korea rounds up this international break with two lackluster draws against Oman & Jordan. Steve & Kevin diagnose the issues that plague this haphazard team.
Includes a guest appearance from Scott McIntyre, reporting for FIFA and The Asian Game.
Fairpoint Football
yt: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball
ig: @fairpointfootball
x: @realstevescores, STEVE HAN 한만성
x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준
Episode 1 of FairPoint English.
Our full-length interview with Jurgen Klinsmann reviewing his time in Korea as the KFA's head football coach.
Catch the interview on youtube!
HOSTS진행:
STEVE HAN한만성, https://x.com/realstevescores
KEVIN KIM김준, https://x.com/tuh0n
RYAN WI위정호
PRODUCER프로듀서:
KEVIN KIM김준, instagram.com/udonpapi
A/V SPECIALIST오디오/비주얼 담당:ALAN CHUNG, instagram.com/@alanychung
SUBTITLES자막: STEVE HAN한만성, https://bsky.app/profile/realstevesco...
CAPTION캡션: BOWON SEO서보원, https://x.com/realjazzyman
THUMBNAIL썸네일: BOWON SEO서보원, instagram.com/inkyflow_on