outh Korea's English dream is in danger of becoming a soccer nightmare.
When Lee Dong-gook joined Middlesbrough at the start of the season, it took the country's representation in the Premier League, the richest and most popular league in the world, to four, easily the most of any Asian nation.
On Saturday nights, broadcasters struggled to fit all the live games featuring Lee and well as his compatriots _ Park Ji-sung at Manchester United, Reading's Seol Ki-hyeon and Lee Young-pyo of Tottenham Hotspur _ onto the airwaves.
Last weekend however, the quartet enjoyed a total of seven minutes on the pitch between them. That was the time that Seol, now at Fulham, was allotted after being introduced a second-half substitute in his team's draw with Blackburn.
Of the four, Lee Dong-gook looks to have the biggest problem as Middlesbrough slides toward the bottom of the table.
The northeastern team has scored just 12 goals in 14 games this season and Lee has yet to find the target in the league since joining the club at the start of the year. He has scored just one goal, against lower division club Northampton Town in a Carling Cup tie, to his name.
Last weekend the Lion King didn't even make the bench and his days at the club look to be numbered.
Lee's contract ends in May, but according to reports in Seoul and regional English newspaper The Northern Echo, the English club is hoping to sell the 29 year-old during the transfer window in order.
Lee Young-pyo has played most matches this season, but last Sunday watched from the bench as Tottenham drew 1-1 at West Ham. The relegation to the substitute's role is not a good sign for the left-back as new boss Juande Ramos starts to stamp his authority on the struggling North London club. The Spaniard replaced Martin Jol in October and is likely to go shopping in the New Year.
Like Middlesbrough and Tottenham, Fulham are languishing at the wrong end of the standings.
After an inconsistent season with Reading, Seol moved house in the summer to be closer to London's ``Koreatown'' of New Malden but the 29 year-old is no nearer a place in the starting 11.
The one shining light for Korean fans is Park Ji-sung but the 26 year-old is recovering from a long-term injury and is not expected to return until January.
Park sustained the knee damage last March when he was in a rich vein of form, his best since joining the English champions in the summer of 2005.
The former PSV Eindhoven star may find a place in the starting lineup harder to come by than in the past. Summer signings Nani and Anderson have settled in well at Old Trafford and Park will have to use all of his famous reserves of dedication and hard-work.
Korean media believe he can do it and Sports Seoul's headline read Thursday: ``Manchester United still need Park Ji-sung.''
Korean fans need Park to make a complete recovery as elsewhere in Europe the situation is little better.
In August, Lee Chun-soo joined Dutch giant Feyenoord and made a promising start on the pitch with the Rotterdam club.
On Wednesday however, the attacker suddenly arrived back in South Korea for a two week vacation, ostensibly to recover from a cold and homesickness.
``We think that Lee Chun-Soo recovers best in his own environment,'' Feyenoord's technical manager Peter Bosz told the club's Web-site.
Media in both Korea and the Netherlands are disapproving.
``Lee rekindles bad memories of Spain,'' wrote news site MyDaily, referring to the player's 2003-2005 spell with La Liga clubs Real Sociedad and Numancia when he acted in a similar fashion before returning to Korea in July 2005 without a goal to his name.
``The first thing he needs to do is learn the language and get to know his teammates,'' said Rotterdam newspaper 'Algemeen Dagblad. ``Lee needs to solve this problem,''
Interest in Asian players has grown since the 2002 World Cup, highlighted by strong performances by joints Japan, which reached the second round, and South Korea, which reached the quarterfinals.
Several Japanese players have appeared in the Premier League since 2002, including midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, who is currently playing for Bolton Wanderers.
Thailand players Suree Sukha, Kiatprawut Saiwaew and Teerasil Dangda have recently been signed by Manchester City, owned by former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, while China's Sun Jihai also plays for City and Dong Fangzhuo plays for rival Manchester City.
Thu November 29, 2007 22:42 EST
JOHN DUERDEN
Associated Press Writer
SEOUL, South Korea
Park Ji-sung of Machester United became the first Korean player in the Premier League in July of 2005.
(AP Photo/ Lee Jin-man)
outh Korea's English dream is in danger of becoming a soccer nightmare.
