Bundesliga Dream Korea gives youngsters a chance to follow in Son’s footsteps

• South Korean Under-16 team trained with 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hamburger HSV
• Korean star Son Heung-min was just 16 when he was talent-spotted in Hamburg
• Korean U-16 team put through their paces by Bundesliga youth team coaches
• The youngsters played friendly matches against youth academies of Mainz 05 and HSV

14 May 2025 – The next generation of Korean footballers seized their chance to follow in the footsteps of Son Heung-min when the South Korean Under-16 squad took part in the first edition of the Bundesliga Dream Korea, which finished yesterday.

Korean star striker Son, 32, was just 16 years old when he was first discovered during a training camp at Hamburger SV. He was still a teenager in 2010 when he made his Bundesliga debut with Hamburg, before later joining Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Son chalked up 135 Bundesliga appearances, scoring 41 goals.

Following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) last March between the DFL Deutsche Fussball Liga and the Korean Football Association (KFA), aspiring footballers can now emulate Son, thanks to the Bundesliga Dream Korea project which provides a pathway to top-flight German football for young Korean talent. To kick off the initiative, the Korean national junior team flew to Germany for training camps hosted by 1. FSV Mainz 05 and Hamburger HSV.

“Hamburg is where the global dream began for Son Heung-min, a world-class player and proud representative of Korean football,” said Kim Hyuinjun, head coach of the Korean team.

“For our players, this is a rare chance to see their future up close. That alone is a powerful source of motivation and confidence.”

The Koreans impressed on the pitch with a 3-2 win against the youth academy of Mainz 05, before playing two games against youth teams from HSV, which both ended in 2-2 draws. The Korean youngsters also got to train at the elite-level with the respective clubs and watched Bundesliga matches live in the stadiums. They met Mainz midfielder and Korean international Lee Jae-sung, who later scored in the home derby draw against Eintracht Frankfurt and ran to celebrate with the Korean youngsters watching in the stands. The goal was ultimately disallowed, but the delight was obvious.

“German football goes beyond winning and losing – it’s about long-term player development and a deep-rooted connection to the game,” added Kim.

“We were also fortunate to observe Mainz’s first-team training, and receive warm encouragement from Lee Jae-sung and Hong Hyun-seok. These moments gave our players more than just international exposure – they gave them a real sense of what it means to chase and realise their dreams.”

Kim said the first week in Mainz showed his players the high standards set in German youth football.
“It was truly inspiring to witness the skill, discipline, and passion these young players brought to our club,” said Jonas Revers, Head of Partner Management & Internationalisation at Mainz 05. “These kinds of experiences are invaluable for their development, both as athletes and as individuals.” The Koreans were put through their paces by coaches during their week-long stay at Mainz, then Hamburg.
“We are very happy to once again be part of this pioneering project, which promotes an international football exchange and gives young talents valuable experience,” said Christoph Rohmer, Director of Sports Strategy at HSV. Bundesliga Dream Korea is an integral part of the KFA’s newly established ‚Made in Korea” project – a national policy framework focused on developing domestic talent development and building a distinct Korean football identity.

Korean international Kim Min-jae has just been crowned a Bundesliga champion for the 2024/25 season with FC Bayern München, continuing a long tradition of world class Taegeuk Warriors calling Germany’s top-flight home. “Signing the MOU demonstrates that we are fully committed to help football in South Korea, which is one of our core markets,” said Peer Naubert, Managing Director and Chief Marketing Officer of Bundesliga International.
“Interest in the Bundesliga is booming in Korea, where our fan base has shot up by 50 percent over the last three years. We are delighted to give the next crop of Korean stars the chance to walk in the footsteps of Cha Bum-kun, Son or Kim through Bundesliga Dream Korea.”

Previous editions of the Bundesliga Dream project featured youth teams from Thailand, Vietnam, China and India, as part of the Bundesliga’s global expansion plans, while supporting the local development of football in the region. The Bundesliga has welcomed more players from the Asian continent than the rest of the other top five European leagues combined.