The 18th day of Ligue 1 will have a special flavor for Yeon-Su Kim, a Korean supporter who saved for six months to get through his television screen, arrive in the North and encourage the Mastiffs in Lille. Encounter.
The passion around LOSC crosses borders, to the point of keeping foreign supporters awake, forced to shift their sleep cycle in order to diligently follow its performances. This is what Yeon-Su Kim has been experiencing for five years, a Lille supporter lost in South Korea, in Seoul. This young 19-year-old student, who recently entered university in an air services sector, however made the decision to break the chains that kept him away from his passion. He has saved up over the last six months to come here, to Lille, and encourage the Mastiffs when they host OGC Nice this Friday and then travel to Liverpool next Tuesday. 8780.3 kilometers
separate Seoul from Lille.
The beautiful story does not end there. Impatient at the idea of truly discovering the grounds of the Decathlon Arena – Stade Pierre-Mauroy, the Korean came into contact with Lille supporters at the start of the week. The flame that animates it has provoked a great outpouring of support, to the point of arousing the curiosity of LOSC and its leaders. This is how Yeon-Su Kim will find herself alongside you and me this Friday, for the Aiglons reception. He is experiencing a waking dream, which he told us about. Encounter.
“People have always made fun of my love for LOSC”
Hello Kim, welcome to Lille. Can you explain to us how you became a LOSC supporter?
Football is a very popular sport in Korea and most of my friends in Seoul support big European clubs like Real Madrid. But I fell in love with LOSC.
I started following them when I was 14, I was in 3rd grade. I think that's how we say it here. I watched my very first game the day my best friend told me about a player named Sven Botman. He told me that he was really strong and that he played in Lille. Without thinking too much, out of curiosity, I watched a match to see what it was worth. It was against Nantes during the 2020-2021 season. After this match, I watched another, then the next, then yet another, and, little by little, I started to support LOSC.
Every day, I woke up at 4 a.m. to watch the games and then slept at school. My lifestyle changed, but watching them play brought me joy. I was, in a way, lucky to have the right season. It was incredible. I remember many matches, like the one against AC Milan, the duel with OL obviously and the comeback from two goals, but also the victory against Paris or the last match in Angers for the title. Three days before, I was so nervous that I couldn't even sleep. And when we finally won the title, I cried like never before. This moment is unforgettable. After this season, my love for the team grew even more and, today, I thrill every day for LOSC.
And finally, what did you think of Sven Botman?
(He laughs). When it was announced that he was leaving, I crossed my fingers that it wasn't true. It finally happened, but I still love it. When I have time, I sometimes watch his matches. But what I really liked was Sven Botman at LOSC, not just Sven Botman (laughing).
More seriously, your passion started overnight, how did your parents react while you were living away to follow the matches at night?
My parents didn't really understand and for over three years they didn't like the fact that I got up every night to watch the games. But as soon as I became an adult, I told my mother that I had become an adult and that I wanted to go to Lille. It simply became a goal. It was only then that she understood that it wasn't just a fad, but a real passion that drove me. Just recently, she called me to ask me where I was. She always calls Lille: “Nille”, didn’t ask me why (laughing).
Today, my mother recognizes my efforts and, for me, getting up at 4 a.m. has never been a problem. I always look forward to matches. I ask myself a thousand questions, wondering how we are going to beat our opponent. It's so exciting! On the other hand, what has always weighed on me is the incomprehension and judgment of others. Some of my friends have always made fun of my love for LOSC. Being looked at by others was really the hardest part of being a LOSC supporter in Korea.
Can you tell us a little more about it? As you said, your friends follow the most important clubs in Europe. What do they tell you when you tell them about your passion for LOSC?
To be completely honest with you, the biggest problem for me has always been how others look at me. My friends often made fun of me asking why I watched a team's games like that. Their words often hurt me, but I didn't know how to respond. Even today, even though I have grown up, it remains a wound for me.
Nowadays, as Kang-In Lee joined Paris Saint-Germain, many people in Korea watch Ligue 1. But before, almost no one followed this championship. Because of that, people around me thought I was really weird. It was quite sad. They always watch Kang-In Lee's matches, but they are not interested in Ligue 1 in general… It's a shame.
Have LOSC's latest results in the Champions League, such as the victories over Real Madrid and Atlético de Madrid, allowed you to experience it better? In a way, take your revenge?
That's an excellent question (laughing). A friend of mine is a Real Madrid fan and as soon as the Champions League schedule came out, I showed it to him. He quickly told me that Lille was going to lose, and by a wide margin (0-3). I was so frustrated that day. On the big day, we watched the meeting together on the phone, even though it was in the middle of the night. This match was incredible: Zhegrova was exceptional, and David scored a fantastic goal. When the match ended, my friend shouted that it wasn't possible, that he had lived a nightmare. I simply replied: “That’s our team!” »
-Then, we also achieved great things against teams like Atlético de Madrid or Juventus. I received lots of messages from my friends after these matches, it was great! Now I'm the one teasing them. I remind them that we are 8th in the Champions League, while Real are 20th and Manchester City are 22nd (laughing).
Our Champions League campaign is truly incredible. Personally, my favorite season was the one where we played against Chelsea in the round of 16. But this year it's even more impressive. I am so happy and proud of what we are doing!
You tell me about Chelsea, so what is your fondest memory as a Lille supporter?
The very first was when we won the Ligue 1 title. That season was one of the most competitive. Our team had the best defense in France. After (Thomas) Tuchel left for Chelsea and (Mauricio) Pochettino arrived, PSG were in much better shape during the second half of the season. They were truly formidable. But we managed, with great pride, to win the trophy on the last day. This memory remains one of the craziest moments of my life. (It's a secret, but that day I cried so much I didn't even go to class). It was after this match that I made a big decision: as soon as I was an adult, I would go to Lille. It became a clear goal in my life from that point on.
I think it will soon no longer be my best memory. I've been living a waking dream since I arrived in Lille. It's only been two days, but I've already fallen in love with this city. I feel a bit like I'm at home. It's like my second home.
Who is currently your favorite player at LOSC?
My favorite player is Benjamin André. I love his hard work behind the scenes. To win, we of course need players with spectacular skills, but the most important players are those who perform their role with consistency and dedication. I even tell my friends in Korea sometimes. When they talk about the Premier League, I tell them that there is a more impressive defensive midfielder than Rodri in Ligue 1: Benjamin André.
His combativeness and his spirit of sacrifice are qualities that all LOSC players should have. I have a lot of admiration for him. The best players in our team often leave quickly for other clubs. But Benjamin André, despite the fact that he has become one of the best defensive midfielders in France, remains loyal to LOSC. I love his commitment.
What do you expect from tomorrow's match?
This match is one of the most important of the season. Half of the season has already passed and this confrontation against Nice is a match that we absolutely must not lose. You absolutely have to win. We have reached a historic record of 20 matches without defeat, but what worries me a little is the number of draws. Of course, not losing is important, but getting wins to advance by 3 points is even more crucial.
It's all the more important as we face Nice, a direct competitor. We absolutely must take the 3 points at home to get closer to qualifying for the Champions League this season. I hope we will be on the podium at the end of the match!
Why did you come specially for this match and not for another?
I'm coming with a friend. This is the one I was talking about earlier, the one who told me 4 years ago that Sven Botman was an excellent player. He's a big football fan and he supports Liverpool while I support Lille. The Champions League match against Liverpool was therefore the perfect opportunity to come here. For him, it will also be the first time he will be able to attend a Liverpool match in person. I told him so much about LOSC that we decided he would come to Lille too to watch a match with me, then we would go together to Anfield to see Liverpool play.
I am truly grateful to this friend for coming this far with me. He's the only one who has always supported my passion for LOSC and who even watched a few matches with me. Thanks to me, he now knows almost the entire team and sometimes watches the matches (laughing).
A little message of thanks…
It is thanks to many LOSC fans that I can experience all of this today and even chat with you. I am deeply grateful. But I particularly want to thank my friend on the page @lavoixdesdogueswho shared my story with the world. I also want to thank all the friends from Lille who sent me messages. I have received so many messages of support, and it touches me deeply. These people welcome me like a member of their family, even though I come from a faraway country. I can never thank them enough.
