My father went to catch wild frogs. I was skinny and weak, and my father heard their juice would give me size and strength. It tasted very, very bad... but I had to drink it because I wanted to be a footballer, and everyone said I needed to be bigger and stronger.
In Korea, if a player doesn't play well, you would never criticise him, but in European countries fans criticise their own teams; sometimes they boo them off the pitch.
The best coaches have strong charisma to motivate the whole team while managing the relationship with the media, which can be tense.
Lee Chung-yong has been playing well and trying hard at Bolton and has grown in confidence. His improvement is valuable for the national team.
My reputation has increased, not just in Korea but across the continent.
The happiest moment was when I just played with a ball as a boy, carefree, without worrying about anything.
I watched Hiddink and Ferguson at close quarters, and I realized that I am not a coach.
When I'm back in my country, it's like being David Beckham. But it's like that for David Beckham all over the world. It must be more difficult for him than for me.
Although the Premier League is tough because players have good physiques and can switch swiftly in offense and defense, it can be overcome after adapting to the league for a few months.
When I go home, it is quite difficult. Being at Manchester United means it is a huge thing, and when I walk down the street, most people recognize me.
I just want to be good at soccer and have a normal life; it is a little ironic that you can't have both.
It was funny because on the day that I joined the club, the newspaper that broke the news was one that people don't always trust or believe. Then, when I signed, and there were pictures of me and Sir Alex Ferguson, people believed it.
I don't like rehabilitating myself. It is one of the things I dislike.
I thought the sports law sector would be boring, but it was unexpectedly interesting.
I've had fans coming up to me and speaking Chinese or Japanese. It's not a case of mistaken nationality. I just don't think they realise that we don't all speak the same language.
Against Japan and any Asian teams, we've had good results, so I would say that history proves we are the best Asian team.
We have a long history with Japan. When South Korea play against Japan, the fans tell us that if we lose, they are going to throw the players into the sea.
There is no question that Korean footballers have the ability to play in Europe. The real challenge is whether they will be able to adapt to western culture.
We always try to keep going and stay concentrated. Early goals help that a lot.
There is still a big gap between South America and Europe and Asia, and if we had more players playing in Europe, the gap would be smaller.
