Minjae Kwak has seen more of the world than many 22-year-olds, having already lived in five different cities, in four countries, on three different continents. That jet-setting life may sound fun as a tourist but when you are a kid chasing a career in football, it means constantly having to prove your value to a bunch of strangers. 

Kwak’s worldwide experience and tenacity helped him to not only land a contract with Vancouver FC, but also become one of the Club’s first signings earlier this year. It was another important milestone in Kwak’s already lengthy football career that all began two decades ago.  

For Kwak and many Koreans, 2002 was a special year when they hosted the FIFA World Cup alongside Japan. At that tournament, not only did Korea win their country’s first World Cup match, they also made it into the semifinals. This was an achievement that no other Asian country has ever repeated and it put Korea on the world map of soccer. 

Even though Kwak was too young to experience that turning point firsthand, his family ensured that he learned about Korea’s pivotal soccer history, including trips to visit memorials that were created in honor of the 2002 achievement. When the 2006 World Cup arrived, it was a family affair to watch team Korea who qualified for the second consecutive tournament. 

Those memories are special for Kwak as they were the foundations for his love of football. It was after the 2010 World Cup in South Africa that Kwak decided he wanted to become a footballer and, one day, represent Korea. However, that dream was quickly put to the test when his family uprooted their lives and moved to the United States. 

“It was hard, when I first moved to the United States because obviously I didn’t speak English. So it was kind of hard to make friends at first,” said Kwak. “I think soccer really helped me adapt to a new country and make friends. Honestly, without soccer, I don’t know how I would have made friends in the States.”

The beautiful game quickly became more than a socializing tool for the young star. After joining a local team with one of his first friends, Kwak quickly caught the attention of LA Galaxy scouts who invited him to trial with the MLS team’s academy. 

“I’ve never even had a team training before. So… it was really tough for me,” Kwak recalls. “I didn’t know what was happening and I didn’t speak English either. So I was really confused.”

When the then 12-year-old didn’t land a spot with the LA Galaxy, the coaches still helped him to find a different youth academy to continue developing his skills. That experience was an immense boost to Kwak who realized he had the natural skills but needed the dedication to truly succeed. That mentality at a young age helped him to learn English quickly, keep up with his studies, and train harder than anyone else on the squad. 

After six years of development, including camps and tournaments in Europe, the first opportunity to play on a first division club came in 2019. Kwak was invited to a trial for the Croatian First Division Team, HNK Gorica where he was able to impress the European coaches and was offered a contract. However, the decision to go play in Croatia wasn’t as straightforward as Kwak had expected. 

“It was weird because the day I left for Croatia was the day I was supposed to go back to the U.S. to go to college,” said Kwak. “So I had to make a choice, either go back to school or take a chance to go to Croatia.”

Ultimately, Kwak opted to chase his dreams and go to Croatia; but he quickly realized how big of a challenge it was to play for a European country that just made it to the World Cup Final a summer before.

“It was tough at first. I was only 18 when I went and I’m like a tiny, small little kid and everyone’s massive and the speed of the play was really fast,” Kwak remembers.

Even though this wasn’t his first time moving to a different country or continent, this time he was doing it by himself. “It was a whole different time difference (to talk) with my family and friends and I was alone,” said Kwak. “So it was really tough and I used to get really homesick.”

He decided to come back to America in December of 2019, hoping to recharge his batteries and find a new opportunity for the 2020 season. However, before anyone knew it, COVID hit and Kwaks plans changed drastically. He struggled to find a team to play for and after months of training alone, he managed to join a team in the North Independent Soccer Association (NISA), considered to be the third tier in the United States. 

After hustling for three years in the NISA and playing away from home once again, now in Syracuse, N.Y., Kwak received a phone call from his agent with an opportunity to play in Canada. Once more, Kwak had to prove his value at an open trial. 

Kwak’s story came full circle when he was selected by head coach Afshin Ghotbi to join VFC. Some of the heroes Kwak grew up watching, including Park Ji-Sung, Park Chu-young and Lee Chung-yon, were all coached by Ghotbi in the 2002 and 2006 World Cup. For the now 22-year-old, talking with Ghotbi about his experience at those games with the Korean national team goes beyond the storytelling. 

“It’s crazy for me to think that I’m being coached by a coach that coached the best players in Korea,” said Kwak in awe. “I asked him a couple of times about the national team, like how they were and about certain players that I used to like and stuff and just him telling me little details about those players.”

Kwak still has dreams of playing with the Korean national team and he is confident he will have plenty of opportunities at VFC to catch their attention. Kwak, who played as a winger throughout his career, has been converted into a left-back under Ghotbi.

“I like to be direct, I try to get up and down, get crosses, make plays,” said Kwak. “Obviously, defensively, I’m still kind of learning because I wasn’t used to the defensive role.”

The new left-back is taking on these challenges with optimism and help from his great teammates, “I think we have good leadership in the team with Callum [Irving], Rocco [Romeo] and Kadin [Chung] helping us out off the field.” Kwak continues, “They want to win every game and they encourage us, to play better and to have the same mentality as them. Rocco has been helping me a lot as the left center back, he’s been giving me tips about how to defend and where to be.”

Kwak’s relentless dedication to the game continues to pay off. His multi-continental experience and availability to constantly adapt has earned him a spot in the initial eleven twice this season.  The 22-year-old Korean was also subbed in at the 60th minute in Vancouver FC’s first franchise win in the CPL against York in  Match Week Two. 

Join us in our inaugural season and cheer on Minjae Kwawk. Get your Vancouver FC tickets for our May 7th home opener at the Langley Event Centre here.