[One Day Ten Thousand Steps] Director Kim Ho, Who Parted with Cars Before His 60th Birthday, Says "Exercise That Stimulates the Heart Is Necessary"

Former football coach Kim Ho (78) sold his car before turning 60. He recalled it was around the time he stepped down as the manager of professional football club Suwon Samsung and turned 58. The car was his faithful companion across the country. Kim drove that car to visit football stadiums nationwide, discovering numerous talents. Although parting with his beloved car might have been difficult, Kim looked back saying, "I was happy after selling it." Meeting near a park close to his home in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province, he said, "When I was young, I thought I should take care of my health quickly, so I gave up the car. Thanks to that choice, I now have healthy legs." Despite approaching 80, Kim’s calves are robust, with firm flesh and muscle. This contrasts with peers whose lower bodies have thinned and weakened. He laughed heartily, saying, "If I kick a ball now, it might not be like in my prime, but it would fly about 35 meters. That’s proof of how much I’ve walked."

Former national soccer team coach Kim Ho is walking on a trail near his home in Yongin, Gyeonggi Province. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

"Running on stairs... Stimulate the heart"

Kim walks in the mountains and parks every morning before breakfast. He doesn’t set a fixed distance or amount but follows one rule: when he encounters stairs, he runs instead of walking. Kim explained, "It’s about giving the heart a short burst of shock." He added, "We need to stimulate the heart for at least 2 to 3 minutes a day to strengthen it and improve blood circulation, which leads to better health. That’s why sprinting 50 meters has a greater exercise effect than just steady walking."

Kim said that by training the heart this way, people can develop a 'sports heart.' A sports heart is typically found in athletes and is optimized for sports. The ventricular walls are thick, and resting heart rates are slow, but during exercise, the blood flow surges explosively, instantly boosting bodily functions. It is especially efficient at increasing burst speed and stamina. The heart, which heats up momentarily, returns to its normal resting rate after exercise. The faster this recovery, the more activated the body is. Kim advised, "First, build endurance by consistently walking and running, then push your heart rate up to about 180 beats per minute for a minute, then measure how long it takes to drop to 120. This will show how well your heart is trained."

Kim Ho, former head coach of the national soccer team, is talking about health management and soccer. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

Watching football at dawn... "Kim Min-jae’s adaptation is crucial, must watch Klinsmann closely"

Thanks to his improved health and stamina, Kim doesn’t get tired watching football matches held on the other side of the globe every dawn. He watches all the games of Korean players competing in Europe every weekend on TV. He pays special attention to Kim Min-jae (26, SSC Napoli), who shares his hometown (Tongyeong) and playing position (defender). This season, Kim Min-jae transferred to Italian professional football club Napoli and has been performing brilliantly, ranking among the world’s top defenders. Napoli is leading the league alone and is close to winning the championship. As a result, Kim Min-jae is attracting significant interest from prestigious European clubs. Kim said, "Italy generally has good weather. If Min-jae transfers to England or Germany, he will need to quickly adapt to the climate and turf. These places are less dry than Italy, so the grass is usually slippery, increasing injury risk. He will need to use his feet a lot and have strong ankles," he advised.

Kim Min-jae [Image source=Yonhap News]

Jurgen Klinsmann New Head Coach of the National Team
[Image Source=Yonhap News]

Regarding J?rgen Klinsmann (58), who recently took charge of the Korean national football team, Kim said, "We need to support him so he can demonstrate his abilities and watch closely." Kim coached the Korean national team at the 1994 World Cup in the USA, where they faced Klinsmann. The team lost 2-3 to Germany in the last group match of Group C, resulting in elimination with two draws and one loss. Klinsmann scored two goals against Korea in that match. Kim recalled, "Like Lionel Messi, Klinsmann had unique strengths. We analyzed his game videos and prepared, but we couldn’t block his shots, which came unpredictably with his large physique and back turned. Our players were weak against big forwards back then." About coach Klinsmann, Kim said, "I personally believe Germans are honest. I think Klinsmann is the same. He will be transparent in player selection and tactics. The key will be how he utilizes the good qualities often found in star-player-turned-coaches." However, he criticized the recent appointment of Cha Du-ri, FC Seoul’s Youth Development Director, as a technical advisor to the national team, saying, "His role is unclear. Recommending national players is very difficult. I’m somewhat doubtful whether the right experienced veterans have been properly placed in the positions they should occupy."