Park Ji-sung in love with TV announcer

Football star Park Ji-sung makes the shape of a heart with his hands during a press conference in Suwon, Thursday. The 32-year-old Queens Park Rangers midfielder admitted to dating SBS TV announcer Kim Min-ji, 27, since this May. / Yonhap

By Jung Min-ho

Park Ji-sung, in his own words, is “in love.”

The 32-year-old football star admitted Thursday that the rumors of him dating SBS television announcer Kim Min-ji, 27, since this May were true, at a press conference in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province.

``She is my ideal type. No matter what people say, she is the most lovable person to me,” Park told reporters with a big smile. ``At first, we were just friends. But I started falling for Kim as I realized that she is a very understanding person.’’

This was Park’s first public appearance after Sports Seoul revealed photos Wednesday showed him and Kim walking around the Han River in Seoul.

Kim started working at the broadcasting company in 2010. She has hosted a weekly football program with fellow announcer Bae Sung-jae who introduced her to Park’s father who, in turn, set up a blind date for them.

“Before the date in 2011, he did not even tell me about her job,” Park said. They have exchanged messages since but it became very frequent this year.

Park said he was concerned about opening their relationship to the public. But the rumors were swirling around anyway.

“So we decided to make it official,” Park said.

“I’m used to this (attention). But she is not. So, I’m sorry for my girlfriend.”

Nevertheless, the Queens Park Rangers midfielder made it clear that they do not have any plans for marriage yet.

When asked about a rumor that they would tie the knot in July, Park said “that is groundless.”

“English Premier League players have to join their teams for preseason at the beginning of July. So, unless I retire, it won’t happen,” Park said. “If we end up getting married, it will be in the off-season period which is like June.”

Park also said he wants to continue to play in Europe, noting that his career overseas won’t negatively affect their relationship.

Korea will make its eighth consecutive appearance in the Brazil World Cup next year despite a miserable loss to Iran in its last qualifier. So it is little surprise that many fans to want to see Park again playing for the national team.

When asked if he wants to return to the World Cup team, Park said he is not considering it because he believes the team will eventually be able to overcome problems as it did many times in the past.

Before wrapping up the conference, Park made the shape of a heart with his hands and said, “I hope we can continue to keep this good relationship. I love you.”