We had a longer interview with Ryu Eun Hee, one of our club's outstanding players, who tells us how her career started and what she likes to do when she's not playing handball. Of course, there's more in the article to get to know our great player a little better.
You were born in Inchon, South Korea, can you tell us a little bit about your childhood?
"According to my parents, I was a kid who loved playing with the ball. I started to develop a great interest in ball games when I was a kid."
Who influenced you to start playing handball? How did you start your career?
"Initially I wanted to be a football player, due to the fact that I really liked playing ball, and then my mother suggested that I try handball. At the primary school I went to, there was a handball team, that's where it all started."
How popular is handball in your country? What attracted you to the sport?
"Handball is not a very popular sport in Korea, it's not something people know or like. I think I liked this sport because I perceived it as a kind of ball game."
The 2019/20 season was a milestone in your life as you moved to Europe to continue your career at Paris 92. Was this a difficult decision to make? What was your motivation?
"It was always a dream of mine to go to Europe and play handball there, I wanted to experience what it was like to play at a higher level."
What do you see as the biggest difference between European and Asian handball? How much can you combine these two handball cultures?
"I think there are lots of strong teams in Europe. In terms of physical skills and speed, Asian players can't really compete with European players, but Korean players are strong in terms of cognitive skills."
What else would you like to achieve at club level and national team level in your career?
"My main goal is to win the Champions League, the Hungarian Cup and the Hungarian Championship, and on the way to that I want to gain as much experience as possible and of course I want to play as long as possible without injury. It's important for me to learn as best as possible the tactics of my coach, which is interesting because it's very similar to the way I played as a kid in Korea. The South Korean national handball team is on the verge of a generational change, so I'm also looking forward to seeing what the future bring."
What do you like to do most in your spare time? Do you have any hobbies?
"I like to explore the area or go on a long hike, however at the moment this seems impossible due to my busy schedule. My hobbies include listening to music, making figures or playing lego, and I like to play with different games."
How would you describe yourself on and off the field?
"When I'm on the court I try to do my best during the game, I try to get into the rhythm of the game and solve situations well. When I'm on the bench, I watch the players on the field and think about what I should be doing, as well as wholeheartedly supporting my teammates to boost the team's morale."
You wear the number 11 jersey for both the national team and ETO, why 11?
"Back when I joined the senior team, I started wearing the jersey with the number 11. There's no particular story behind it, I also chose the number 11 for the national team, so from that point of view you could say it's close to me. But now I prefer this number."
You've played several times in the Hungarian League and the CL series at home, you've experienced the fans standing by the team as the 8th player, what's it like to play in front of such a crowd?
"In Korea, I have never played in front of so many spectators as when I came here. I feel that there are a lot of fans cheering for me, you could say that we are working together for success. Every moment is a tingling feeling that makes me focus on the game even more, and these things inspire me completely."
