FairPoint host Steve Han is joined by pioneering Asian football writer John Duerden, whose writing since the early 2000s has inspired generation of football fans across Asia. John has been telling stories of Asian and Korean football for three decades now.

An author of four books, John's journalistic work can be found in The Guardian, BBC, ESPN, World Soccer, and AP just to name a few. Also, check out his Substack, How Football Explains Asia. We connected with John to talk about the perennially tumultuous state of Korean football.

(3:32) John's relationship with Korea

(7:45) Korea under Hong Myung-bo

(11:16) Japan, the best team in Asia?

(15:53) How has Korean football changed?

(20:26) The KFA mess and Korean football's deeper issues

(26:47) "The KFA is the product of Korean culture"

(33:48) Does Korean football "deserve" success?

(38:02) Hope for Korean football beyond the World Cup

Links to John Duerden's work

How Football Explains Asia via Substack: https://howfootballexplainsasia.substack.com/

The Guardian: https://www.theguardian.com/profile/johnduerden

X / Twitter: https://x.com/JohnnyDuerden

FairPoint

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@fairpointfootball

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fairpointfootball/

Steve Han

Portfolio: https://linktr.ee/realstevescores

X / Twitter: https://x.com/realstevescores

The lads return to review a very successful international break where Korea left the states with a win and a draw against USA and Mexico.

With a lot to review, Steve, Kevin, and Roy talk about the match and match experience of both exhibitions in Harrison and Charlotte. With a novel 3 at the back system displayed over two games, the crew digs into personal performances, the development of Sonny and Minjae's roles in this team - and key takeaways from these two performances.

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x: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Kevin and Steve return to mark a landmark transfer for the most iconic Korean footballer in recent history.

The MLS comes with its own stigma, but the two delve into the intricacies that make this transfer a noticeably football oriented move, despite all the buzz that has come with it.

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ig: @fairpointfootball

x: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

FairPoint's Steve Han and Joon Lee met with Maya Yoshida in February 2025 to talk about his wealth of experience as former Japan national team captain.

Yoshida opened up about his ambition to improve player welfare in Japan, what motivated him to play in Europe for more than a decade as one of Japan's first central defenders abroad, and how Japan's rivalry with Korea has motivated him.

Steve Han holds it down for the Fairpoint crew alongside special guest Ryo Nakagawara, as they review the 2025 East Asian Cup - a four team tournament consisting of Korea, Japan, China, and Hong Kong.

Fairpoint Football

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ig: @fairpointfootball

x: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @r_by_ryo, RYO NAKAGAWARA

If you're looking for more J-League / Japanese football content, look no further than RYO's substack: https://www.shogunsoccer.com/

Joel Kim is in the mix with Steve, Roy, and Kevin as they review Korea's final AFC Qualifying performances v. Iraq and Kuwait, which secures Korea's place in the North American World Cup next summer.

The crew assesses the current state of the national team, especially considering the fresh faces involved in Korea's most recent victories, and ponder some general questions. Can Kim Jin-gyu fill in for Park Yong-woo? How differently is Lee Jae-sung utilized by Hong Myung-bo as opposed to Paulo Bento and Klinsmann?

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ig: @fairpointfootball

x: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

x: @KNTFootball, JOEL KIM

ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Steve, Roy, and Kevin round up their conversation on expectations of the upcoming Asian World Cup qualifiers against Iraq and Kuwait.

Fairpoint Football

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ig: @fairpointfootball

x: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Episode 3 of FairPoint English.

Steve, Kevin, and long-time Korean football diehard, Roy Ghim of the Taegeuk Tavern, get together to discuss the end of the season for some of our most successful Korean players abroad - including Son Heung-min and his historic Europa League triumph with Tottenham.

Fairpoint Football

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ig: @fairpointfootball

x: @realstevescores,⁠⁠⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

ig: @westernmachines, ROY GHIM

Episode 2 of FairPoint English.

Korea rounds up this international break with two lackluster draws against Oman & Jordan. Steve & Kevin diagnose the issues that plague this haphazard team.

Includes a guest appearance from Scott McIntyre, reporting for FIFA and The Asian Game.

Fairpoint Football

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ig: @fairpointfootball

x: @realstevescores,⁠ STEVE HAN 한만성

x: @tuh0n, KEVIN KIM 김준

Episode 1 of FairPoint English.