Half-Korean nat'l football team player says his heart told him to pick Korea

Jens Castrop, midfielder for the Korean men's national football team, speaks to reporters before a training session at Icahn Stadium in New York, Wednesday. Yonhap

Born in Germany to a Korean mother and a German father, midfielder Jens Castrop grew up representing his birth country as a junior, from under-16 to under-21 levels. Now 22, Castrop says he has chosen to play for Korea because he listened to what his heart told him.

The midfielder for Borussia Monchengladbach switched his footballing allegiance to Korea in August and then earned his first selection for the Korean senior national team later that same month. It made Castrop the first foreign-born player of mixed heritage to be chosen for the Korean men's squad.

In New York to prepare for upcoming friendly matches against the United States and Mexico, Castrop told Korean reporters Wednesday (local time) that the decision to choose Korea over Germany was entirely his own.

"It was a very tough decision. And I think, with this kind of decision in your life, you have to listen to your heart," Castrop said before a training session at Icahn Stadium in the Big Apple. "And my heart said I want to play for Korea, and that's why I'm very proud that I'm here now."

Castrop said his Korean-born mother "was very proud" but she "didn't influence me in any way" when he chose Korea.

As for his father, Castrop said he was "very shocked" when he learned of the move because "it was the decision that I took on my own."

"I think they are all very proud and happy as long as I am here," Castrop added.

Among his Korean teammates, Castrop said he has spent a lot of time with a couple of 22-year-old players who speak English, forward Jeong Sang-bin and defender Lee Tae-seok.

"We are young players, and we're just making jokes, having a good time in New York," Castrop said with a laugh.

The national team also features veterans with past and current ties to the Bundesliga, including captain Son Heung-min, defender Kim Min-jae and midfielder Lee Jae-sung.

Jens Castrop, center, midfielder for the Korean men's national football team, warms up before a training session next to captain Son Heung-min, right, at Icahn Stadium in New York, Wednesday. Yonhap

"I'm very happy to be with all of the players," Castrop said. "There are some great players, of course, some big names, like Heung-min and Min-jae, but I'm happy to be with all of them."

When announcing his squad last week, national team head coach Hong Myung-bo noted Castrop's physical, rugged style of play, saying it's missing among the current crop of Korean midfielders.

Castrop, who said he can also play as a right back or even on the wing, insisted he will stick to what got him to this point.

"I'm a fighter I will not change my playing style," he said. "I can run a lot, win duels, I'm good with the ball. It takes a lot of confidence, but I'm getting that right now."

The immediate goal for Castrop is to get settled in with the new national team and "be as successful as possible." For the longer term, Castrop said it would be "a dream come true" to have an opportunity to play at the FIFA World Cup next year.

"It would be a dream for me and my family to play in the World Cup," he said. "I'll try to give good performances to the coach so that he can nominate me."