Former manager of the Daejeon Hanacitizen football club Hwang Sun-hong has been selected to head the national under-23 football team. 

In a news conference on Thursday, Hwang said his aim is for the team to grab the gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games, adding he believes it is very possible if the team makes thorough preparations. 

The newly-minted coach added that, in order for South Korean football to gain competitiveness on the global stage, it must become more active and swift. 

Hwang is considered a legendary goal shooter in South Korean football. He competed in four consecutive World Cups, the last being in 2002. 

The first competition that the U-23 team will play under Hwang’s leadership will be the 2022 Asian Football Confederation U-23 Asian Cup qualifiers set for Singapore from October 27 to 31. 

Team Korea will also face the Philippines, East Timor and Singapore. 

If Team Korea gets through the preliminaries, it will qualify to play in the final tournament set to be held in Uzbekistan next June.