Drawing fans to Jeju World Cup Stadium, FC Bayern Munich defeated K League 1 side Jeju SK 2-1 in an Audi Football Summit friendly on August 4, 2026.
Star Power Arrives in Jeju Amid Notable Absences
German powerhouse FC Bayern Munich arrived at Jeju International Airport aboard a private charter flight on the afternoon of August 2, greeted by approximately 500 enthusiastic fans brandishing jerseys and autograph books. The club’s visit marked their second trip to South Korea following an August 3, 2024 preseason fixture against Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul.
Manager Vincent Kompany led a 26-member traveling squad that included defensive anchor Kim Min-jae, goalkeeper Manuel Neuer, and midfielder Joshua Kimmich. However, the roster lacked several prominent names. Players who reached the quarterfinals or beyond at the 2026 North American World Cup—most notably Harry Kane and Michael Olise—were granted rest and skipped the Asian tour.
Upon arrival, the Bayern players engaged in active fan service, with Neuer posing for photographs and signing jerseys, while Kim similarly greeted supporters individually. On August 2, the squad participated in a closed training session to adapt to the local environment, and Kompany attended a K League match between Jeju SK and Incheon United at Jeju World Cup Stadium. On August 3, the team held a press conference and an open training session.
Tactical Battle and First-Half Substitution on the Island
On the pitch, the friendly offered plenty of action before a crowd of spectators. Bayern deployed a 4-2-3-1 formation, handing the captain’s armband to Kim, who anchored the backline alongside Hiroki Ito, Filip Pavic, and Vincent Manuba.
The visitors opened the scoring in the 11th minute when Felipe Chavez drove a left-footed shot past Jeju’s defense. The K League side answered swiftly in the 15th minute. Jeju forward Matheus Aias orchestrated a brilliant rainbow flick past Kim and Ito, setting up teammate Chang-min Lee to level the match at 1-1 with a left-footed finish. Kim later committed a foul against Aias in the 24th minute and contributed to an offensive sequence in the 33rd minute by feeding a pass to Bara Ndiaye, whose right-footed shot from outside the box was blocked by the Jeju defense.
Kim’s afternoon concluded shortly after. Kompany substituted the South Korean international in the 36th minute, replacing him with Tim Binder as Kim walked off and exchanged greetings with Kompany. Just minutes after Kim’s departure, Bastian Asamoah netted a 41st-minute winner off a feed from João Palhinha, sending a right-footed shot into the lower left corner to secure a 2-1 victory for the visitors.
Fried Chicken Treat and Marketing Impact for the Local Hero
Following the final whistle, Kim orchestrated a thoughtful gesture for his traveling teammates before the club departed for Hong Kong. According to German outlet Bild, Kim ordered traditional Korean fried chicken delivered directly to the team hotel late in the evening. The spread featured fried chicken served with various sauces and toppings, arranged by Kim to celebrate the conclusion of a very special camp in his home country.
Club executives highlighted Kim’s immense value off the pitch as a cultural and commercial anchor in Asia. Ruben Kasper, Bayern’s marketing director, praised the defender’s reach:
The impact of a ‘local hero’ throughout South Korea and the entire Asian continent is enormous. We already experienced very positive effects during our Seoul tour with Kim back in 2024. Ruben Kasper, Marketing Director at FC Bayern Munich
Looking Ahead to the European Season
The successful domestic showcase appears poised to quiet persistent transfer speculation surrounding the defender. Speaking to journalists at a press conference in Jeju, Kim expressed firm commitment to his current club:
As a player, I am very happy and extremely satisfied to be part of FC Bayern. I do my best in every match and pour everything out on the field. I hope to receive more opportunities from the coach in the new season and remain with the team. Min-jae Kim, FC Bayern Munich Defender
