Seol was greeted as a national hero during last month's pre-season tour to South Korea, where he is cherished as one of the players who helped the nation to the 2002 World Cup semi-finals.
"Korea was a turning point for Seol. He went back there and realised what a big star he is in the country," he said. "I wasn't surprised at how big he was in Korea. He's a good looking boy who was a World Cup star in a football-mad country.
"But he's very well perceived over there despite the fact he hasn't made the grade in the Premiership yet.
"You can't put that down to managers like Lawrie Sanchez and myself not giving him opportunities. At this level you don't get many chances.
"If you get an opportunity and it doesn't work out for you at a place where the competition for places is strong, you run the risk of not getting another chance.
"I think that now he's coming to terms with that."
