Herriman: This time a year ago, defender Cho Wi-je was playing for Busan IPark in the second-tier K League 2. Now at the start of June 2026, Cho finds himself on South Korea's final FIFA World Cup squad.

According to Yonhap News Agency, an untimely injury for another player opened up a spot for Cho, who was initially picked as a training partner after a long stretch of strong play for the defending K League 1 champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Starting center back Cho Yu-min suffered a foot injury during South Korea's 5-0 win over Trinidad and Tobago on Saturday. He was ruled out of the World Cup on Sunday, leading head coach Hong Myung-bo to replace him with Cho Wi-je without having to call up another player from South Korea or an overseas league.

Cho Wi-je expressed his surprise and determination, stating, "Yu-min played such an important role in helping us qualify for the World Cup, and it was really tough to see him leave. To fill his void, I just have to perform as well as I can. I know no words will make him feel better, but playing well in his spot may help."

Wi-je learned about his inclusion in the World Cup squad through media reports on a day when the national team had a break. He admitted he was unaware of the severity of Yu-min's injury at the time. "I received so many messages from my family and friends, and I don't even know how to describe my feeling," Cho said.

The 24-year-old defender logged 106 matches in four seasons in the K League 2 before joining Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors this year. His consistent performance has been noted as a key factor for one of the stingiest defenses in the top South Korean league. Cho highlighted his strengths, saying, "When I play in the center back position, I can cover a lot of ground on either side with my speed. Then if I play on the right side of defense, I can also help on the offensive end."

Cho Wi-je drew parallels between his playing style and that of Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae, who will also be part of South Korea's defense. Cho said he hopes to learn from Min-jae's experience against top European players. "Min-jae is so much quicker than most players, and I have to be quicker on my feet to get to that level," he added.

Inspired by fellow K League 1 defender Lee Gi-hyuk, who performed well in the Trinidad and Tobago match, Cho aims to make the most of his World Cup opportunity. "The World Cup is not a tournament where you simply gain experience. I want to prove my abilities and go in with confidence," Cho concluded.