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Lim Young-woong and Lee Kang-in Share Special Chemistry on the Pitch: A Unique Collaboration Born from a Love of Football

Scenes of singer Lim Young-woong and national football team player Lee Kang-in sharing the pitch together have been revealed, drawing keen attention from fans.

Jonghoon Jeong
Staff Reporter
5 min read
Lim Young-woong and Lee Kang-in Share Special Chemistry on the Pitch: A Unique Collaboration Born from a Love of Football
CBC News

Scenes of singer Lim Young-woong and national football team player Lee Kang-in sharing the pitch together have been revealed, drawing keen attention from fans. It marks a distinctive meeting between one of the music industry's most prominent football enthusiasts and the flagship midfielder of Korean football, united by their common denominator: football.

Lim Young-woong is widely recognized as one of the entertainment industry's most avid football fans. Beyond simply watching the sport, he has consistently taken to the pitch as both a player and club owner of the amateur football team Returns FC. He has also drawn attention on football variety programs by showcasing his dribbling, passing, and playmaking abilities, proving his presence in actual matches. In October 2024, he personally participated in the Hana Bank Charity Football Match, teaming up with current and former professional football players. In the second half, he recorded an assist with a left-footed through ball, demonstrating a high level of football understanding and passing sense. The match featured players from Returns FC, led by Lim, as well as current and former players including Cho Won-hee, Kim Young-kwang, Ki Sung-yueng, Lee Chung-yong, Park Joo-ho, Ji Dong-won, and Lee Keun-ho, with all match proceeds going to support vulnerable populations. Lim's love of football has thus extended into charitable activity.

Lee Kang-in is a core asset of Korean football, armed with a precise left foot and creative passing. Lim Young-woong has also displayed his left-footed passing and game-management skills on multiple occasions in charity matches and variety shows, making the sight of the two handling the ball on the same pitch a unique spectacle for both football and music fans. In a released YouTube Short, Lim connects a long pass to Lee Kang-in, who then takes a shot. Though their stages differ, the two — who have each established top-tier standing in their respective fields — are naturally expanding their connection through football. This meeting carries added significance as it goes beyond official matches or broadcast schedules, simultaneously highlighting Lim's unwavering passion for football and Lee's approachable personality.

Meanwhile, Lim Young-woong currently ranks 20th in the Male Singer category at the Netizens Awards. As of 2:50 p.m. on the 7th, he has recorded 69 votes, with attention focused on his trajectory through the end of this month.

Jonghoon Jeong
Staff Reporter

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