For South Korea’s New Dual-Heritage Midfielder, Opportunity Remains Elusive

DAEJEON, Nov. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — Two months into his tenure with South Korea’s senior national soccer team, 20-year-old Jens Castrop — the German-Korean midfielder hailed as a new pillar for the team’s future — is discovering the limits of early promise.

Castrop, who plays for Borussia Mönchengladbach, saw just over five minutes of action on Friday during South Korea’s 2–0 friendly win over Bolivia in Daejeon. Brought on in the 85th minute with the match already tilting decisively in Korea’s favor, he had little time to influence the game.

It was a familiar pattern.

Since making his national team debut in September, Castrop has logged only 122 minutes across five international matches — barely 27 percent of total available playing time. He was unused entirely in the October win over Paraguay and has since been limited to late-game cameos, even as injuries have thinned Korea’s midfield.

That absence has puzzled some supporters, who question why a young talent traveled from Germany only to sit on the bench. “Did they fly him from Europe just for five minutes?” one fan wrote on social media, reflecting growing frustration.

A Promising Profile, but an Unsettled Role

Castrop entered the national setup with high expectations. His versatility — able to play as a defensive, central or attacking midfielder, as well as on the wings or at wingback — initially appealed to manager Hong Myung-bo. Hong hoped Castrop could bring grit and pressing energy to Korea’s midfield and perhaps grow into a complementary partner to playmaker Hwang In-beom.

But that same flexibility has proved a double-edged sword. Castrop has yet to establish a defined role, and his instinct to attack, aided by quick footwork and aggressive pressing, has not always aligned with the more positional discipline Hong demands from a defensive midfielder.

In recent matches, Hong has favored pairings that offer clearer profiles: Kim Jin-gyu for passing and tempo, and Won Du-jae as a traditional holding midfielder. Even with Hwang In-beom, Baek Seung-ho and Lee Dong-kyung all sidelined by injury this month, Castrop was not among Hong’s primary options.

Limited Integration Time and a Coach Unwilling to Gamble

Part of the hesitation may stem from timing. Castrop joined the team only after the Asian qualifiers for the 2026 World Cup concluded, giving him less exposure to Hong’s tactical system than domestic-based players.

Ahead of this week’s friendly, Hong noted that few of the remaining midfielders had experience in the final qualifying round, hinting at concerns about cohesion.
For all his potential, deploying Castrop in key moments may still feel like a “gamble,” especially with Korea chasing a higher World Cup seeding.

Hong, a coach known for resisting special treatment for Europe-based players, appears intent on reinforcing internal competition. He has long maintained that “playing in Europe does not guarantee minutes,” and his selections — including opting for K-League fullbacks and midfielders — reflect that philosophy.

A Critical Test Against Ghana

South Korea faces Ghana next week in Seoul, a match that may offer the clearest indication yet of Castrop’s standing. Another brief appearance — or none at all — would signal he remains outside Hong’s core plans. A significant spell on the pitch, by contrast, may suggest he is undergoing a gradual integration ahead of the World Cup.

The trajectory is not unprecedented. Captain Son Heung-min himself spent his early national-team years entering late off the bench, prompting his father to complain in 2011 that “flying 30 hours for 15 minutes” hindered development. Son eventually emerged as a mainstay.

For now, Castrop is patient. Speaking after the Bolivia match, he offered a measured response:
“I want to play more, of course, but the decision is the coach’s,” he said. “My job is to make the most of whatever time I get.”

Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)