CAST Board Member Paul Breen interviews one of our newest Charlton Seoul-mates - Park Inwoo from South Korea.
Paul: I lived in South Korea for two years, teaching English at a university of technology in Seoul. Around that time, football was very much in vogue over there. The slogan “Be the Reds!” had emerged during the 2002 FIFA World Cup, when South Korea co-hosted the tournament. It was a rallying cry for the Red Devils —the official supporters of the South Korean national football team. Coincidentally, that was also the time I first began following our reds - Charlton Athletic—during those final seasons in the Premier League, amidst the turbulent era of Ian Dowie and Les Reed. Because of this I know what a struggle it is to follow a team from afar. So it was with great interest and curiosity that I recently came across a Charlton fan posting in Korean on Instagram. At the Charlton Athletic Supporters Trust, we thought it would be a perfect opportunity to learn more about how and why someone halfway around the world became part of the Charlton story.
- So, first things first—can you tell us a bit about yourself? What's your name, where are you from in Korea and where are you currently based?
Inwoo: My name is Park Inwoo. I’m originally from Suwon, but I currently live in Seoul, the capital of South Korea.
- Paul: When and how did you first become interested in Charlton Athletic? Was there a particular match or player that first caught your eye?
Inwoo: I’ve always enjoyed watching lower-league football, and one day I decided I wanted to find a team to support properly. At first, I was drawn to Birmingham City, especially since there are two Korean players there right now. But the more I looked into League One clubs, the more Charlton Athletic stood out. The moment I discovered Charlton, I just felt it was the right team for me.
The match that left the biggest impression on me was the one against Leyton Orient on March 2nd. Scoring two late goals in the second half was enough to send my dopamine levels through the roof!
As for players, I really like Kane Ramsey—he’s my favourite.
- Paul: Charlton isn’t the most obvious team to support from overseas—what was it about the club that drew you in?
Inwoo: As I mentioned, I enjoy watching lower-league football, and as I explored more clubs, Charlton just captured me in a way I can’t fully explain. The moment I saw the team, I simply felt, “This is my club.”
- Paul: How easy is it to follow Charlton from South Korea? Is it possible to watch the games live or on replay?
Inwoo: It’s really difficult. There’s no Korean-language coverage of Charlton, and I have to translate all the news articles myself from English. As for watching games, there aren’t any Korean broadcasters showing them, so I have to pay to watch through Charlton’s official platform. Considering the exchange rate between Korean won and British pounds, it’s quite expensive.
- Paul: South Korea is eight or nine hours ahead of the UK depending on the time of year—how does the time difference affect your ability to follow matches live? Do you stay up late or wake up early to watch?
Inwoo: Yes, I always have to stay up late to watch the matches. Kickoffs can be anywhere between 9 PM and 4 AM Korean time, so watching games can be really tiring—but since I love the team, I can handle it.
- Paul: Do you support any other football teams—Korean or European—or is Charlton your main passion?
Inwoo: I don’t support any other team with the same passion as Charlton, but I do have a soft spot for Inter Milan in Serie A. My favourite player is Lautaro Martínez.
- Paul: How popular is Charlton in South Korea, or more broadly in Asia? Are there other fans you’ve come across locally or online?
Inwoo: To be honest, hardly anyone in Korea knows about Charlton. Most fans here focus on popular leagues like the Premier League, Serie A, Bundesliga, La Liga, and Ligue 1. Koreans tend to enjoy fast-paced, high-level football from those top divisions.
I only know one other Korean Charlton fan—his name is Ji Kyungmin and he’s been supporting the club for over 20 years.
- Paul: Have you managed to build any sort of network or community around Charlton fandom in Korea? Are there other supporters you chat with or meet up with for games?
Inwoo: It’s incredibly difficult to find Charlton fans in Korea—it’s like searching for a needle in space! That’s why there hasn’t been any fan community here until now. The Charlton Korea fan page I run is actually the first one in the country.
- Paul: Do you know of any bars or cafes in Korea that show English football, particularly games from the Championship or League One?
Inwoo: No, I don’t know of any places that show Championship or League One games in Korea—and I think it’s very unlikely any do.
- Paul: Are Charlton matches ever shown on Korean TV or streaming platforms, or do you have to use other methods to find coverage?
Inwoo: Back when we were in League One, there weren’t any Korean TV channels or platforms that showed our games. But now that we’ve been promoted to the Championship, a Korean OTT platform called Coupang Play has started broadcasting Championship matches—so I can finally watch Charlton games more easily!
11. Paul: What’s it like supporting a lower-league English team from a distance? Is it isolating, or does it feel like you’re part of something unique?
Inwoo: Honestly, it can feel a bit lonely. My friends all support big teams from the Premier League or Serie A, so it’s hard to join in football conversations sometimes. But on the flip side, I feel unique and special. I doubt there are even 20 Charlton fans in Korea—really! Supporting Charlton here feels both lonely and truly special.
- Paul: Charlton have just won promotion to the Championship—how does that feel as a fan watching from Korea? Are you hopeful for the future?
Inwoo: I’m genuinely over the moon about our promotion—so, so happy! I’ve never loved a football team this much before, and this season has made me feel so proud.
My hope is that we can at least stay in the Championship next season. Most people are predicting that we’ll be relegated again, but I’m just hoping we can survive and build from there.
- Paul: Do you ever feel tempted to fly over and see a live game at The Valley? Have you ever visited London, or is it something you dream of doing one day?
Inwoo: Visiting The Valley is on my bucket list for sure. Even before I got into football, I always wanted to visit the UK—I’ve loved the idea of seeing Tower Bridge, Big Ben, Buckingham Palace, and all those beautiful landmarks.
Since starting the Charlton Korea fan page, I’ve also made some English friends, and I’d love to watch a match at The Valley with them one day!
Paul: Thanks for that interview and always great to talk to one of our international Addicks. Keep up the good work Being The Red in South Korea, Inwoo - Charlton Red!
If anyone else is interested in sharing their stories from afar just give us a shout and we will feature your story too in a future CAST bulletin of news.