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L.A. story Korean star defender hopes to join MLSPosted: Saturday August 24, 2002 10:36 PMUpdated: Saturday August 24, 2002 10:39 PM SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- South Korea's veteran defender Hong Myung-bo said Sunday that he wants to join the Los Angeles Galaxy in the American Major League Soccer competition. "If my club allows, I would like to play for LA Galaxy before Koreans there," said Hong, who is contracted to South Korean K-League club Pohang Steelers. Hong said he had been contacted by the American club, but the ultimate decision was up to Pohang. The 33-year-old defender was captain of the South Korean World Cup squad, which made an unbelievable charge to the semifinals in June. South Korea was the first Asian nation to reach the final four at soccer's premier event, which it co-hosted with Japan. Galaxy wanted Hong on its roster reportedly to help boost interest among the large Korean-American community in the LA area. Hong, a 1997 world and 2000 Asian all-star, has been a stalwart on four World Cup campaigns and had been on the national team since 1990. He played for Japanese J-League's Bellmare Hiratsuka in 1997-98 and Kashiwa Reysol in 1999-2000 before returning to play for the Pohang Steelers late in 2001. Pohang has received a letter from the MLS secretariat formally requesting that it release Hong. Galaxy officials were expected to arrive in South Korea on Monday to discuss a possible transfer. Pohang Steelers officials were not available for comment.
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