Fallen S . Korean club football giants ready to return to 1 st division : coach SEOUL , Feb . 27 ( Yonhap ) -- Park Kyung - hoon , head coach of South Korean second division football club Seongnam FC , said Monday he is ready to restore the fallen honor of the club by earning a promotion to the first division this season . Seongnam boast the most first - division titles with seven . They are considered one of the traditional powerhouses in the South Korean club football history , but got relegated to the second - division K League Challenge last year . Seongnam finished 11 th among 12 clubs in the top flight K League Classic . They had to survive a home - and - away series against Gangwon FC , the playoff winners from the second division , to stay in the upper echelon , but failed to do so . Park took the helm of Seongnam in December with the task of earning a promotion . The 56 - year - old said he feels a heavy weight of responsibility , but is ready for the challenge . " When you ' re in the Challenge , there ' s only one goal , which is to earn a promotion by winning the league , " he said . " That ' s the only reason this club brought us . " Park said he first tried to change the atmosphere of the club . Seongnam , founded in 1989 , have never experienced second division until this year . " When I first met with the players , they were too depressed , " he said . " I had to boost their confidence level , and I said to my players that we need to enjoy football . " Seongnam , also two - time continental title winners , signed a slew of proven players in the league and brought in qualified foreign talent this offseason . Their foreign signings include former Australian national team striker Dario Vidosic and Croatian defender Marin Orsulic who played more than 200 matches in Europe , including UEFA Europa League matches . " I will not deny that our squad got better than the last season , " he said . " But it can also serve as pressure . You need to make results here . " Just like Seongnam , Park will also experience the second division for the first time . He previously led K League Classic side Jeju United for five seasons and achieved a runner - up finish in 2010 . " If you look at the Challenge , there are no easy teams , " he said . " But people say the Challenge is more fun to watch and I think overall , this is good for South Korean football . " For Seongnam , Park said he will show " heavy metal football , " which refers to a dynamic and powerful style of play . " We have many players who have good techniques , " he said . " In my style of football , strikers need to score goals . " Park said he has big expectations for striker Hwang Ui - jo . The 24 - year - old striker , who also has eight caps for the national team , was linked with Japanese clubs this winter , but decided to stay with his hometown club . " I said to Hwang that he can ' t just leave the club when it needs him the most , " he said . " But I ' m not to going to hold him forever . If we get good offers from other clubs , possibly from Europe , I will release him . " kdon @ yna . co . kr ( END )