Wolves dropped two points against Crewe at the weekend to leave them well adrift of the play-of zone, but you won't find Seol Ki-Hyeon complaining. The South Korean international was forced to endure four weeks of national service during the summer of 2005, which is a pre-requisite for all South Koreans. He was afforded a bit of leeway as a World Cup semi-finalist, as the normal length of service is two years. However, it was still a shock to the system after the adulation that greeted him nationwide only three years earlier. Still, it has given the livewire midfielder a totally new outlook on life and, as he told givemefootball's Ian Clarkson, he will never complain about football again.
Q:
WHAT WAS NATIONAL SERVICE LIKE?
A:
It was very difficult but after I had completed four weeks of national service I felt as though I could achieve anything I wanted. It felt like four years, but you were confident of facing any challenge after undertaking your service. However, I was one of the lucky ones, as you are supposed to do a mandatory 24 months, but I only had to do four weeks, as we reached the World Cup semi final. If I had to do it for two years, then I think I would have died!
Q:
DID IT CHANGE YOU AS A PERSON?
A:
The discipline definitely helped me and all my teammates noticed the difference in me when I returned from national service. It is good for your life. You come out of the army and there isn't a war, but it makes you want to fight for everything in your life. They gave me a rifle, but I was so nervous my shooting was dreadful. They took it from me again and told me to stick to football!
Q:
IS THERE ANYONE AT WOLVES WHO LOOKS LIKE THEY HAVE DONE NATIONAL SERVICE?
A:
Paul Ince looks like he has been in the army. He is disciplined and mentally strong. I don't think it would do young people and some of the young players at Wolves any harm to undertake national service. It would be good for them.
Q:
WHAT ACCESS ARE YOU GIVEN TO THE OUTSIDE WORLD?
A:
You are completely closed off from outside life. I didn't even know that Park Ji-Sung had signed for Manchester United until I came out. We used to get up at 5.30am and run before eating for ten minutes and then undertaking our education. It was hard when we ran as we had this great big heavy helmet on our head and a pack on our back. When it was time for the toilet, it was just a case of using the great outdoors in a ditch as well. There was no chance to rest and you didn't have time to talk when you were eating, and you shovelled it in your mouth for ten minutes.
Q:
IT SOUNDS AS THOUGH IT WAS HARD WORK?
A:
We went to sleep at 10pm, but you still had to spend an hour on guard during the night before waking up at 5am again and starting all over again. I was the oldest person there and I used to get very angry when I was being shouted at, but you had to accept it. The instructors knew who I was but treated everyone equally. No-one did me any favours and it certainly makes you appreciate what you have in terms of football.
Q:
HOW POPULAR IS THE PREMIERSHIP IN SOUTH KOREA?
A:
The Premiership is huge in South Korea and is splashed across the newspapers every day. Wayne Rooney is the biggest name amongst Manchester United fans now. David Beckham is still very popular too, especially with the ladies! Not many people had heard of Wolves before I signed, but more people are aware of them now. It is a famous club and I am very proud to play for them. I want to play in the Premiership eventually and hopefully I can achieve that with Wolves.
