Cho So-hyun interview: Second City Seoul sister – Birmingham’s Korean great plays right on
Neither the deftness of Cho So-hyun’s midfield touches nor the scale of her ambitions have been diminishing of late. If you hear the Korea Republic legend mention playing through the pain, meanwhile, the picture might not be quite as you imagine.
“I felt nervous, because there were a lot of security, and they checked my bag, and they had all of these cars passing through! When I sat down, two English people were sat there, and then someone asked me, ‘What’s your name?
“Where are you from? What’s your job?’”
Birmingham City’s Cho recalls a visit to Buckingham Palace in 2023, which had seen the vastly-experienced midfielder invited alongside various South Korean dignitaries, at a state banquet.
“‘I’m a football player.’ Then I said to him, ‘I have no idea why I’m here!’
“He said, ‘What’s your job?’ ‘I’m a football player.’
“‘That’s why you are here – you should be proud of yourself.’ ‘Oh, thank you very much!’”
It is a humble bemusement wildly out of step with her stellar status in her nation’s football history. Korea Republic captain at the 2015 and 2019 FIFA Women’s World Cup, she would then administer their solitary shot of euphoria in 2023, sinking an early chance in Brisbane, as opponents Germany – widely tipped as tournament frontrunners – ultimately exited with them after a 1-1 group-stage finale.
Second only to ex-Chelsea star Ji So-yun (now of Seattle Reign), the midfield pair are currently out in front as the most capped South Korean footballers (women’s or men’s team) of all-time, on 162 and 156, respectively. If the aforementioned pageantry at the Palace was meant largely for those with global-scale accomplishments to speak of, Cho’s suitability was without question.
The Seoul native draws similar, patriotic warmth from Korean music artists’ widespread recognition, and the banquet had her sharing a guest list with girl-group sensations BLACKPINK.
“I just said hello, because they looked nervous, I think. I’m quite proud of them, because they are big now around the world.
“Some people ask, ‘Where are you from?’ ‘I’m from South Korea.’
“‘Oh, do you know BTS, or BLACKPINK?’ Then we just talk about (pop) idols and communicate.”
Having already achieved a spot on the bill alongside K-pop royalty, kickstarting an actual music career now almost seems back to front. Birmingham’s vice-captain, though, has been discovering that some hand-crafted melody makes her time away from Blues’ Barclays Women’s Championship promotion push more satisfyingly serene.
“I watch Netflix and YouTube, and sometimes I play piano or guitar; sometimes I study English or other languages. When I was like…eight, I played piano, but I just stopped when I started football.
“But when I started to think that my mentality wasn’t that great, I wanted to try and spend time doing other hobbies. That’s why I played piano, and then my stress just went down, so it’s helpful for me.”
Initially attracted to the portability of guitars, the world traveller has since been trying her hand at intros from various Korean songs. As for the ‘playing through the pain’ element referenced earlier, Blues fans need only worry if she is down as their emergency goalkeeper.
“Guitar, that’s new – that’s why my finger is quite sore!”
Her attempt to crack the European market has proved a success. Joining Avaldsnes IL in February 2018 at 29 made her the first Korean to represent a Norwegian women’s club, while last month marked six years since her arrival in England, at West Ham United.
The former Tottenham Hotspur player has more recently been taking to life in the ‘Second City’, with the Korean-barbecue lover also delivering an emphatic verdict on the calibre of her country’s cuisine in Birmingham: “It’s better than London, I think.”
Her contentment in her first Blues season had been enough to sign a contract extension last March, taking her through to this summer, with the club holding a further year’s option.
“I have good teammates, that’s why I wanted to stay here. I think I enjoy the football here, because the English leagues are getting better over the last five years.
“Great players join clubs in England, and then we can compete more with each other. I think in South Korea, there isn’t competition.”
CHOOOO! 🥳#BCFC pic.twitter.com/88RS67L5Ft
— Birmingham City Women (@BCFCWomen) January 19, 2025
Her side are currently caught in what looks a seven-team mosh pit, each with designs on clambering to the sanctity of the WSL stage. Blues occupy the coveted, crowdsurfing position at present, hoisted above the rest in 1st, though London City Lionesses (2nd) can overtake with a win from their game in hand.
In head coach Amy Merricks’ first full season, they aim to return to the top division at the third attempt. Cho’s signing had come early last season (under previous coach Darren Carter), announced on the same Deadline Day as compatriot forward Choe Yu-ri.
Birmingham’s South Korean contingent currently stands as the strongest of any English team, with forward Lee Geum-min making it a trio on the women’s side in September, while men’s-team midfielder Paik Seung-ho was recently joined by full-back Lee Myung-jae.
“When I was at West Ham and Tottenham, I was the only Korean, so it’s quite different,” Cho explains. “If I can speak Korean (to teammates), I feel more confident and comfortable, and I feel like my stress goes down.”
“Sometimes, we just talk about life, and football; more football, I think, and how we’re doing for this team.”
Choe Yu-ri would comment recently in a club video on how the presence and support of Cho in her first Birmingham season stopped her from deciding to return home. It is a foundation of familiarity that did not exist for Cho in the early years of her own European adventure.
The first few months in England brought the considerable boost of on-field achievement. With West Ham in pursuit of their first Women’s FA Cup final, a semi-final shootout with Reading had swung the Hammers’ way, leaving Cho with the chance to send them to Wembley.
If such a scenario is meant to shred the nerves, the message had not reached her, as she received the ball from her goalkeeper Anna Moorhouse with an almost gleeful expression. A decisive, lifted strike into the top corner was the cue for players and staff to storm the pitch in elation; unified delirium to transcend language barriers.
As universally understood perhaps as…a South Korean man mimicking horse riding?
“Yeah, I danced,” she recalls of her initiation at both West Ham and Spurs, though no such test arose at Birmingham. “You know like ‘Gangnam Style’ (by Psy)?”
“I did that.”
Sunshine vibes ✌️ ☀️
🇰🇷 @Cho8Sohyun #SpurHerOn ⚪ #COYS pic.twitter.com/3FDnwaIoxj
— Tottenham Hotspur Women (@SpursWomen) June 3, 2021
She confirms with a laugh that she feels ‘just a little bit’ English six years on. From such initial unfamiliarity, earning an official leadership role overseas is arguably one of her career’s foremost feats.
Rotating so far this season between a starting and substitute role, the vice-captain has found herself stepping in for regular skipper Christie Harrison-Murray on multiple occasions. She details why that has not been a seamless task, even for somebody who has worn the armband at two World Cups.
“To be honest, I felt quite nervous! Because we have a different culture in South Korea to England, so I think I have to show more leadership face to face than just (with what I do) on the pitch.
“It’s quite different in South Korea, where I didn’t say anything (as captain of the national team); I just showed through my actions all over the pitch. So, I always feel nervous; if I’m playing without Christie, I always (look around and) think ‘where’s Christie?!’”
West Ham’s 2019 FA Cup final against Manchester City – a 3-0 loss but with the bells and whistles of a grand Wembley occasion – provided vivid justification to Cho’s family of her long-distance pursuit. She would play the game’s entirety with her mother among the 43,000+ in attendance.
The value behind her chosen path has not always been so impressively apparent. The ever-affable character has, however, come to know that unapologetic boldness and conviction is sometimes just the ticket.
“My mum said, ‘Do you remember what you said?’ ‘This is not your life, this is my life – I have to start playing football!’
“That’s what I said to my mum! So, when she reminded me, I was shocked – ‘Did I say that?! I’m sorry, Mum!’
“When my brother started football, I just said, ‘I want to do that,’ to my mum. It’s quite funny, we always stick together; if I do something, my younger brother always follows me.
“Then, when my brother wants to do something, I always follow him. That’s why we started football together.”
The inclusive measures by Birmingham to smooth the cultural differences for Cho and her compatriots have not gone unappreciated; Korean options, for example, are incorporated into the food prepared for the team. It all adds up to another welcoming layer in an environment that Cho has wanted to remain within.
The concept of jeong (정/情) is referenced often as a fundamental Korean emotion; somewhat complex in totality, perhaps, but generally alluded to as strength of attachment and connection felt towards others. Such a social glue has characterised her Birmingham group, where one of their Republic of Ireland internationals often leads the way for life on the lighter side.
“I can say Quinny (Lucy Quinn), because I worked with Quinny at Tottenham before Birmingham, so I already knew she’s quite crazy and funny. She always makes me laugh and smile; I like her jokes.”
Cho is a life saver! 🤣 pic.twitter.com/zLECSysF7H
— Birmingham City Women (@BCFCWomen) March 28, 2024
Though recently loaning out one of their team DJs, the well will not be running dry any time soon for pre-match party starters.
“I think Shiv (Siobhan Wilson, now on loan at Southampton), or sometimes Tegan (McGowan), or Libby (Smith).”
Cho’s boyband favourite from back home – “I like (songs by) BtoB – ‘Higher’, ‘Movie’, ‘Outsider.’” – has not yet been given its chance of a breakthrough in the changing room, but does K-pop itself ever make a cameo?
“Oh, no! But I like listening to their recommended songs, because sometimes I didn’t know the song but the rhythm is quite good.
“Before we warm up, our feeling is more energy.”
A national team’s culture can effectively be a demo tape from that country’s ultra-long play of societal nuances. Korea Republic’s former head coach, Englishman Colin Bell, had been trying to respectfully circumvent an age-based hierarchy in which players felt unable to give instruction to more senior members of the squad.
Cho is asked about their typical atmosphere in the lead-up to kick-off and how music feeds in – somewhat differently to in England.
“In the national team, the physio mainly asks the players what songs we want; there is no DJ (from the team). There is no dancing in the changing room but we sit and talk, and prepare for the game.”
There would be karaoke on occasion for players and staff during Colin Bell’s tenure, as part of the team’s shared downtime. Still in the early stages of her guitar-playing endeavours, an acoustic set from Cho in public might not be in the offing just yet, but what if she recorded a song with any teammate(s) from her career?
She tells how she would take the opportunity to tap into the Reggae Girlz flow, with the aforementioned Jamaica wide player Siobhan Wilson.
“I think Shiv; she has a different vibe. I try to learn some dances but it’s quite a different rhythm!”
The former Suwon and Hyundai Steel Red Angels player has become well attuned to other rhythms by now. Time in Japan on loan with INAC Kobe Leonessa brought the 2016 Empress’s Cup to add to her five WK League titles from back home.
She speaks of her desire to share the knowhow gained abroad with South Korea’s younger players, in an effort to help advance their women’s game. At international level, that experience has included a direct impact on big moments.
While the 2023 strike versus Germany was scored in a time of significantly-heightened viewership for the tournament and women’s football overall, it still sits behind one from eight years earlier as her most valued from her international career’s 26. The setting was Ottawa, Canada, as the team’s airborne number eight adjusted perfectly to divert a header into the far corner.
“My favourite goal is (against) Spain (in the 2015 World Cup), because we were losing the game 1-0, and then when we started the second half, I thought ‘I have to do something for this team,’ because I was captain. I got a chance and then I scored (to equalise), and I thought ‘oh, maybe we could win this game, and go through to the round of 16.’
“Then we won the game (2-1) – I can’t say anything (to describe the feeling) actually!”
At their second World Cup, that was the team’s first – and so far, only – time progressing to the knockout phase of a global competition. With Shin Sang-woo appointed following Colin Bell’s departure last June, the 2022 Asian Cup runners-up have been shifting to a ‘more tiki-taka’ style, Cho believes.
The closing months of 2024 saw heavy defeats in friendly matches with Japan, Spain and Canada. Not included in recent squads, Cho remains one of the most prominent options for a side predominantly comprising home-based players, and her ambitions with the team very much remain.
“I want to continue to play for the national team, but if they give us the right competition, I can show my ability as well. My goal is I want to play in the next World Cup.”
While she would still be some way off Brazilian midfield stalwart Formiga’s 41 years at the 2019 World Cup, a place at the 2027 tournament in Brazil would come at the age of 39. As touched upon, her continued participation includes the caveat of improved structural backing around the national team.
“I don’t feel like they support us; compared to the men’s team, it’s not great. To be honest, I feel like they don’t want to invest in the women’s football team.
“Since 2015, the number of elite players is getting lower, so I’m really sad actually, because if they invest in women’s football, I’m sure we could reach the (World Cup) quarter-final or semi-final; we need to do that. We can see Japan doing that, so I hope they invest more.”
Personal investment has been plentiful over the course of her time abroad, bringing expanded perspective, for which she will always be glad.
“I think when I was growing up in South Korea, I was quite strict; I always thought ‘I need to be on time, I need to do this…’ I always thought that what I think is correct, I never thought it was wrong.
“Then when I came here, it’s quite different. The players show their character or their emotion, so then I understand more and open my mind.”
Much of her thinking currently centres upon representing a team that were eliminating Arsenal to reach the UEFA Women’s Champions League semi-final 11 years ago next month. Blues Women’s place in the elite game has shifted significantly since then, but the club overall is now one undoubtedly carrying grand ambitions, with a men’s team also hurtling towards promotion back to the Championship.
The Knighthead ownership’s multi-billion-pound plans for a Sports Quarter in the city mean prospective new surroundings for the women’s team as well, with natural intrigue at exactly how substantial the investment will be to help them make up the sizeable ground on the WSL’s established top bracket. Getting there is the first hurdle, which demands 1st place in a Championship containing several obvious contenders; Blues’ 2-1 win at London City Lionesses in November came against a team fielding Sweden stars Kosovare Asllani and Sofia Jakobsson, with legendary Japan captain Saki Kumagai since joining in January.
With ramped-up threats coming also from the likes of Newcastle United, Cho is asked if the league feels increasingly harder to earn promotion from.
“No, we can win this league,” she responds unerringly. “I don’t think about the opposition team actually, I always focus on our team first.”
“If our players stick together and link up, work hard as a team, nobody will beat us, I think. I always think positively.”
The unrestrained joy in her goal celebrations is infectious, and after ushering 2025 in with a goal against Portsmouth – a finish unlocking the rarity of nutmegging two defenders – supporters hope it is a sight they have not seen the last of this season. In fact, putting the crucial touches on well-constructed moves is something she intends on doing long into the future – from a separate vantage point.
“I want to be a general manager in South Korea. I just want to create a new team and make it different to other clubs, because we have a different system in South Korea to the WSL and Championship.
“So, I just want to get some players to join my team, that’s my ambition!”
To catch each of these interviews, you can follow: @chris_brookes (or on Bluesky here)
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