South Korea x Darmstadt | Traveling across the country with the Lily on the chest

Whether at the Max-Morlock-Stadion, in the neighbourhood, or facing the „Red Devils“ – SV 98 is hitting the road again this coming season. And for matches away from the „Bölles,“ you naturally need the right look. After all, at away games, we not only sing just as loudly as we do at home but also proudly wear the Lily on our chests wherever we go. Find out what the new SV Darmstadt 98 away kit looks like this Friday at 10am.

In Hojae Lee, the „Lilies“ welcome a South Korean player to the Böllenfalltor. The tall centre-forward is joining Darmstadt from the Pohang Steelers. Back home, Lee made a name for himself primarily through his physical presence, aerial ability, and prowess inside the penalty area; he also recently established himself as a South Korean international. Football was practically in his blood: his father, Ki-hyung Lee, earned 47 caps for South Korea and worked as a coach after his playing career ended.

At SV 98, Lee follows in the footsteps of several prominent compatriots. Perhaps the most famous among them is Bum-kun Cha, who made his German professional debut in a 3–1 home win against VfL Bochum in December 1978—though that remained his only appearance for the club.

Seung-ho Paik made significantly more appearances in the Darmstadt jersey. A former FC Barcelona youth player, he was under contract with SV 98 from 2019 to 2021, playing 45 competitive matches. He later represented South Korea at the 2022 and 2026 World Cups; in Qatar, he even scored a goal against Brazil.

Dong-won Ji is also fondly remembered. The forward arrived at the „Bölle“ on loan from FC Augsburg in early 2018, contributing two goals and four assists in 16 games as the team successfully avoided relegation. He scored his goals against Eintracht Braunschweig and Erzgebirge Aue.

The story of Korean players at the Lilies is rounded out by Jin-kook Kim and Min-hai Kim, who played for SV 98 in the late 1970s and early 1980s, respectively. Hojae Lee is thus already the sixth South Korean to wear the jersey featuring the lily, and is now set to write his own chapter in this special connection.

So far, 4,500 tickets have already been sold for the final warm-up match against Portsmouth FC, including around 1,500 for the away section. We are counting on your support once again to help create a genuine „Bölle“ atmosphere together. We recommend securing your spot in advance via the online ticket shop. On Saturday, a matchday ticket window will also open at the booth by the North Entrance; only standing-room tickets will be available there.

Clear rules apply on a velodrome track: wear a helmet, hold your line, avoid sudden braking, and—above all—do not endanger anyone. Coming to a standstill on the track is never a good idea anyway. That same principle held true last Sunday (July 26th) for SV Darmstadt 98’s „second second team“. The „Lilies“ kept moving, picked up speed as the friendly match progressed, and ultimately secured a 5–2 victory over SG Nordheim/Wattenheim.

However, the main topic of conversation lay beyond the action on the pitch. The match—played on the turf of FK Olympia Darmstadt’s historic venue, which is encircled by a velodrome track—is considered a real highlight among groundhoppers. Consequently, Sunday morning offered a perfect opportunity to swap stories about fascinating stadiums, exciting matches, and future travel destinations. More than 800 spectators turned out to watch the spectacle.

Following an intensive training camp, Tuesday (July 27th) was a day off for the entire SV 98 squad—and our number 15 was likely the most pleased of all. Fabian Nürnberger celebrated his 27th birthday. The upcoming season will be his fourth wearing the „Lily“ crest. We hope you had a great celebration and wish you much success and good health in the year ahead!

A warm welcome and a very happy birthday! Our new signing, Carlo Sickinger, celebrated his 29th birthday on Wednesday (July 29th). The Karlsruhe native joined the team right at the start of the training camp. We hope you settle in well and are soon being cheered on in the stadium!