--What are the conditions of accommodation during the interdiction period?
That hotel room used for blocking is spacious and elegant, and the apartment I am currently staying in, while also a general residence, complete with kitchen and bathroom, sadly lacks a refrigerator. The apartment manager explained that refrigerators are not generally available here. In addition, each room is equipped with a closed-circuit television surveillance system in front of the door.
--What is the dietary situation in China?
While at the hotel, I did not enjoy breakfast and opted for ramen, instant rice and canned food brought from Korea for lunch. Before I left, I brought enough food for three weeks, which resulted in overweight luggage and extra check-in fees. Aside from lunch, I relied heavily on takeout for dinner. In the blocked apartments, takeout can only be ordered once a day between 6:30 PM and 8:00 PM. I usually ordered Korean dishes through a translator provided by the team. The hotel also provided lunch, but at an additional cost and it was not well balanced. After arriving at the Barrier Apartment, I started to return to eating lunch normally and the food here is better than I expected. I'm sure I'll be able to adapt to the Beijing diet soon.
--What do you want to do most when the blocking is over?
"I longed to play soccer, even if it was just jogging around the practice field, and it felt like regaining the right to use my cell phone in training camp. Are you curious about the daily life of a blocked apartment? --Waking up, meals, dishes. Then there's sleeping and waking up, and the next day continuing with meals and dishes."
--How will the schedule be organized after unblocking?
"The first thing is to arrive in Beijing and have a day's rest, then you will join the team for pre-season preparations. I have been in touch with the interpreter to find out the team's schedule and the interpreter takes care of everything."
-How is your health after a long period of time without training?
"I am indeed worried, but the start date of the Super League is yet to be finalized, about a month or so away. For me, one month is enough time to recover. I can't wait for the start of the Chinese Super League and hope to be back in Beijing soon, which makes me feel like I'm on Jeju Island. For now, my idea is to arrive safely in Beijing. I came to play in China as a foreigner and hopefully I can show the same strength I had when I was at Pohang FC. Last week, I had a video conference with Guoan's head coach, who understands how hard it is to live in isolation and expressed his support for my situation. He said that since he took over the head coaching position, the first foreigner he asked to sign was me." (Edited by Liu Shui-Tu)
