Jens Castrop South Korea: A Historic Call-Up
South Korea coach Hong Myung-bo has made history by calling up former German youth international Jens Castrop for upcoming friendlies against the United States and Mexico. This marks the first time a mixed-heritage player has been included in the men’s national squad.
The 22-year-old midfielder, who currently plays for Borussia Monchengladbach, was born in Düsseldorf to a German father and a South Korean mother. Castrop previously represented Germany at the Under-16 to Under-21 levels but recently requested FIFA to switch his international allegiance to South Korea.
He has played for 1. FC Köln and 1. FC Nürnberg before joining Monchengladbach in February 2025. Castrop will join South Korea stars such as captain Son Heung-min and Paris Saint-Germain’s Lee Kang-in as they prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, marking South Korea’s 11th consecutive appearance at the tournament.
While recruiting overseas-born players has become common in China and Japan, it remains rare in South Korea. On the women’s side, striker Casey Phair became the first mixed-heritage player selected for the senior team in 2023 during the Women’s World Cup.
This historic call-up highlights South Korea’s growing openness to integrating talent from diverse backgrounds as they aim to strengthen their squad for the global stage.
