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Bayern Munich's Ito Hiroki and Kim Min-jae compete for a high ball with Jeju's Chinari during the "Audi Football Summit 2026 Jeju SK FC vs FC Bayern Munich" match at Jeju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo on the 4th. / Yonhap

Kim Min-jae, the South Korean national team's key defender, took the field before home fans wearing Bayern Munich's captain's armband. His playing time was limited to 37 minutes, but he made his presence felt with his signature aggressive defending and decisive tackling. Jeju SK, for its part, refused to back down against the top European club, showcasing the competitiveness of a K League 1 side.

Bayern Munich defeated Jeju 2-1 in the "Audi Football Summit 2026" friendly at Jeju World Cup Stadium on the 4th. Making its first trip to Korea in two years since 2024, Bayern secured another win in front of Korean fans, following its 2-1 victory over Tottenham Hotspur in Seoul two years ago.

With some key players absent due to the World Cup, Bayern started Kim Min-jae. Kim partnered with Philipp Vavič in central defense, while Ito Hiroki and Vincent Manubah handled the flanks. Wearing the captain's armband, Kim organized the defense from the back as the match began.

Jeju also proved a tough opponent. Fielding summer signings Ayas and Chinari as attacking spearheads, Jeju pushed forward aggressively from early in the first half. Bayern took the lead in the 12th minute through a left-footed strike from Felipe Chavez, but Jeju equalized just four minutes later.

In the penalty area, Ayas beat Kim Min-jae with a "sombrero" flick to shed his marker before laying the ball off to Lee Chang-min, who fired home with his left foot.

It was a moment that may have stung for Kim. But he immediately showed his defensive strengths again. In the 35th minute, he anticipated a Jeju counterattack, pushed forward, and cut off the play with a sliding tackle, drawing applause from the crowd.

Kim was substituted for Tom Binder in the 37th minute, ending his day. Rather than push his playing time in the extreme heat, the decision appeared aimed at gradually building fitness and match sharpness early in preseason. A crowd of 22,519 packed Jeju World Cup Stadium that day, and Kim received loud cheers as he left the pitch.

Jeju's performance also carried significance. While it should be noted that Bayern fielded a squad centered on younger players, with several stars away at the World Cup, Jeju — considered the clearly weaker side — quickly regained its footing after conceding first. In particular, the equalizer, built on Ayas's individual skill and Lee Chang-min's finish, showcased Jeju's attacking ability.

While Jeju isn't among the deepest squads in K League 1, the match demonstrated its competitiveness at home, using organized defense and quick transitions to trouble a stronger opponent. Indeed, even after making seven substitutions in the second half, including bringing on Joshua Kimmich and Jonathan Tah, Bayern couldn't find an additional goal until the end. Jeju weathered Bayern's pressure throughout the second half to preserve the one-goal margin.

For Kim Min-jae, the match was another chance to affirm his standing in the competition for a starting spot ahead of the new season. Last season, Kim logged 2,051 minutes across 37 official matches, scoring 1 goal and providing 1 assist, and he faces intense competition again this season.

With Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah as established rivals, and Ito Hiroki — who can play both on the flank and in central defense — added to the mix, competition for center-back spots at Bayern has grown more complex than ever. In particular, given that Bayern demands both defensive stability and strong build-up play from its backline, Kim's proactive defending and man-marking ability stand out as clear strengths. On the other hand, given last season's injury setbacks and inconsistent playing time, proving consistent form and fitness from preseason onward is expected to be the key challenge in his fight for a starting role.

After the Jeju match, Bayern travels to Hong Kong to face Aston Villa of England's Premier League on the 7th. Jeju will play a K League 1 away match against Jeonbuk Hyundai on the 8th.

                                                                                                        Cheon Hyun-bin