The Korean Football Podcast

FairPoint
  • 5.0 (2)
  • SOCCER

🇰🇷⚽️🗣️ Providing depth and context to the most relevant topics in the world of Korean football. FairPoint was first founded as a podcast in Korean in March 2019 by Steve Han, Jean Min Lee, and Ryan Wi.

  1. EP 14 | Scouting South Africa with Mazola J. Molefe

    JAN 28

    EP 14 | Scouting South Africa with Mazola J. Molefe

    (3:48) South Africa's position in world football (7:39) Mazola's take on Hugo Broos (15:36) S. Africa's reaction to World Cup draw (22:14) Hugo Broos' impact on Bafana Bafana (29:07) South Africa's tactical framework (35:01) Mokoena, South Africa's key man (39:18) Bafana Bafana's defensive prowess (50:22) Who should Korea look out for? For the first time ever, South Korea and South Africa will face each other at the FIFA World Cup this summer in Monterrey, Mexico. We connected with Mazola J. Molefe, one of the best football reporters covering South Africa national team, famously nicknamed Bafana Bafana, and the South African Premiership. Mazola took some time out of his busy schedule to talk about the recent AFCON disappointment for South Africa, how Hugo Broos has saved the floundering team, and much more. Currently a reporter for public broadcast network SABC in South Africa, Mazola has covered football in Africa for nearly two decades. His assignments range from Bafana Bafana to domestic football in South Africa to the CAF Champions League. He spoke with our very own Steve Han and Junu Lee to talk about the upcoming FIFA World Cup in Canada, Mexico, and the US. Mazola J. Molefe ⁠Instagram Tik Tok⁠ ⁠X / Twitter⁠ Mazola's YouTube Channel Behind The Boot Podcast *** Other Links ⁠FairPoint YouTube⁠ ⁠FairPoint Instagram⁠ ⁠FairPoint Ultimate Directory⁠ ⁠Steve Han's Work⁠ ⁠Steve Han X / Twitter⁠ ⁠Junu Lee Bluesky⁠ ⁠Steve Han Instagram⁠ ⁠Junu Lee Instagram

    1 hr
  2. EP 13 | It's Mexico again (w/ Jon Arnold of Getting CONCACAFed)

    JAN 16

    EP 13 | It's Mexico again (w/ Jon Arnold of Getting CONCACAFed)

    (4:03) Expectations for Mexico (15:53) Mexicans abroad struggling? (19:16) What Mexico expects from Korea (21:52) How Korea and Mexico match up (28:16) What's up with Hirving Lozano? (31:46) Is Guadalajara's altitude a myth? (39:26) Sonny vs. Mexico To learn about what Korea will face in Mexico at the FIFA World Cup 2026 this summer, there's no one better than Jon Arnold to give us the best insight on what to expect. Formerly Goal's North America correspondent, Jon has been a dear friend and is one of the region's most respected football writer, as he has now covered CONCACAF for more than a decade. Be sure to check out his newsletter Getting CONCACAFed. Steve Han and Junu Lee connected with Jon to talk about Mexico, the World Cup host and also Korea's Group A opponent this summer. From Edson Alvarez's struggles at Fenerbahce to Mexico's expectations against Korea to the "myth" behind playing at higher altitude in Guadalajara, where Korea will play two matches in Group A, we covered it all with Jon. Jon Arnold Getting CONCACAFed Newsletter JonArnoldFC Tik Tok X / Twitter Bluesky JonArnoldFC Instagram *** Other Links FairPoint YouTube FairPoint Instagram FairPoint Ultimate Directory Steve Han's Work Steve Han X / Twitter Junu Lee Bluesky Steve Han Instagram Junu Lee Instagram

    51 min
  3. EP 12 | There are 7 million more K-Football fans

    JAN 7

    EP 12 | There are 7 million more K-Football fans

    Kevin welcomes on filmmaker Emanuel Han, creative director Josh Lee, and art director Ray An to discuss their ambitions in developing Korea, Away, a video series exploring the Korean diaspora through the lens of KNT support. They assess the global state of Korean culture beyond football, and consider how far it's come since 2002. The gyopo lads muse over the diasporic journey especially in tandem with supporting the Korean national team, and outline one of their clear goals with Korea Away: to document as many of those stories as they can next summer. Korea, Away have currently been fundraising to develop a video series exploring the Korean diaspora through the lens of Korean football fandom. They will be traveling to the World Cup to document their story, which will begin in Guadalajara, Mexico. This is a call to all Korean football supporters: the Korea, Away team wants to hear from you if you'd like to share your story. Contact info below: Korea Away korea.away2026@gmail.com IG: https://www.instagram.com/korea.away/ https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/emanuelhahn/korea-away?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio Josh Lee https://www.instagram.com/joshspice/ Ray An Rose https://www.instagram.com/rrosefromconcrete/ Emanuel Hahn https://www.instagram.com/hahnbo/ Meeja Richards https://www.instagram.com/nicetomeeja/ Kevin Kim X / Twitter: https://x.com/tuh0n FairPoint YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairpointfootball/

    45 min
  4. EP 11 | 2025 Review of Korean Football

    12/31/2025

    EP 11 | 2025 Review of Korean Football

    Kevin and Steve are back to review what's been a big year not only for Korean football but also the FairPoint channel. Yoon Do-young, the teen on loan at Excelsior, spoke with the crew recently, and the two dive into what the Brighton youngster shared in his interview. Following is a look into the current state of Korean football culture. Alluding to the Steve's chat with John Duerden in the prior episode, Kevin and Steve analyze a culture symptomatic of a cultural issue, rather than a generational one, in regards to Korean football, the national team, and the FA's evolution. The two wrap up by reviewing the national team and look into their chances of qualifying out of their group (they should). 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 Kevin Kim X / Twitter: https://x.com/tuh0n

    58 min
  5. EP 10 | The Current State of K-Football with John Duerden

    11/26/2025

    EP 10 | The Current State of K-Football with John Duerden

    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

    47 min

  6. 09/16/2025

    EP 9 | Post-Match(es) Review v. 🇺🇸 & 🇲🇽

    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

    1h 14m

  7. 08/13/2025

    EP 8 | Son Heung-min to Settle in L.A

    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

    49 min

  8. 07/14/2025

    EP 7 | Exclusive Interview: Maya Yoshida, former Japan captain

    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.

    42 min
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5
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🇰🇷⚽️🗣️ Providing depth and context to the most relevant topics in the world of Korean football. FairPoint was first founded as a podcast in Korean in March 2019 by Steve Han, Jean Min Lee, and Ryan Wi.

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