After years of speculation, Jens Castrop finally chose Korea Republic. Having represented Germany through various youth age groups he switched international allegiance in 2025 and made his debut the same year, coming off the bench in the second half of Korea’s 2-0 win over USA.
Castrop’s cameo in New Jersey started a new chapter for Korean football. He is just the second biracial player to feature for Korea after Jang Daeil, who played for the Taegeuk Warriors in the late 1990s.
In 2023, Castrop caught the attention of the Korea Football Association whilst Jurgen Klinsmann was leading the national team. Although Klinsmann’s time in Korea was short-lived, his successor Hong Myungbo continued the conversation with Castrop, who was playing for FC Nurnberg in the 2.Bundesliga at the time.
After joining Borussia Monchengladbach this past summer and making his Bundesliga debut, Castrop finally informed Hong that he was ready to represent Korea.
A versatile midfielder, Castrop has also featured at both wing-back positions for Borussia this season. For Korea, he has featured primarily as a midfielder in the six appearances that he has made so far.
FIFA recently spoke with Castrop about his positional versatility, experience in Germany, and what being Korean means to him.
Yes, 100%. Football is a lot about stress every day, so you need to be focused with little room for mistakes. So, when I have free time, I love to let my head relax a little bit, go into nature with no phone, and calm down a little bit. That’s also why I got a dog! After training, I go with my dog to breathe a little bit and get a few steps in. That really helps my mental and physical health.
Progressive runs forward. I think my style is a little different than most midfielders or wing-backs. I’m able to take the ball forward and create attacks, but also defend and help the team stay in a back five. I’m trained to play a lot of positions, by adapting with different individual qualities. That’s why I’m comfortable with dribbling. I think my stamina is good and I have good speed, so if there’s space, I know that the other team is not able to catch me easily. If I have space in front of me, it will be attacked.
That’s one of several things he is good at. He gives us confidence, told us about our strengths, trusted in us, and that’s how young players develop the most, by letting them play and make their mistakes, and not punishing them. For younger players, that’s a gift.
It depends on the opponent. Depending on whether we play four or five at the back, he speaks to the players individually on what to look at, and what’s important in those games. Hong made it easy for me in the national team. We had good talks before everything was announced [about my decision to play for Korea]. It was my first call-up and he made it as easy as possible for me. I’m very thankful for that.
You can take the whole team as one. Everyone helped me and was nice to me. I think the whole team is good at speaking English. A few players also speak German. Sonny and [Lee] Jaesung speak good English and German. I’m learning Korean very passionately right now. I learn for an hour, four or five times a week. I think the next call-up will be easier for me.
Growing up, I always knew I was not just a regular German like others in my class. I always knew that I’m at least half Korean. That’s something in your character that you see every day as you handle certain situations. You’re just a little bit kind of different than a 100% German child. I always knew I was Korean. As you mentioned breaking barriers for more diversity in Korea…that’s a lot, but I will give my best to support that. I am Korean and I want to help the team and show others that it’s possible to change the nation and change the country and be part of the Korea national team.
It would mean so much to me that I don’t even want to talk about it (laughs). I try to be relaxed so I can play my best football. I have nothing but love for everybody supporting me, especially other Koreans that feel a bit similar to my situation. I’m going to give my best to play the best football here in Borussia Monchengladbach, and hopefully, in the upcoming Korea national team matches.
