The 26-year-old is back in Adelaide following the conclusion of his first season in the K-League with Chunnam Dragons.

It’s been a successful campaign for him with the ex-Adelaide United defender catching the eye in just over 20 appearances in his first Korean season.

The goal-scoring defender says K-League stars are increasingly being looked by clubs in Europe and has hailed the league's quality which he says has lifted his game to new heights.  

“We had a Spanish fitness trainer and in the time he was there, he was getting contacted by Barcelona and Manchester City,” he told au.fourfourtwo.com.

“They [European clubs] are all looking in to Asia now rather than Africa and because the mentality of the Asian players is just unbelievable, you can tell them anything and they basically do it straight away."

Ji Dong-Won at Sunderland and Arsenal’s Park Chou-Young and Lee Chung-Yong at Bolton are just three of the latest Koreans to make their way into EPL clubs.  

Cornthwaite's club ended up seventh on the 16-team ladder while K-League champions Jeonbuk Motors recently played in Asian Champions League final before losing to Al Saad.  

He has been a regular in media teams of the week awarded by local journalists and he’s brought out his trademark goal-scoring celebration three times this year.

“Obviously the main goal once I arrived was trying to get into the starting XI as soon as possible," said the former Olyroo.

"After a couple weeks settling in, I made my way in to the starting XI against Suwon, away, my first game, and won man of the match and never looked back.

“I have managed to play every other game except for six I was suspended for unfortunately, but in my eyes, to play was every game that I was available for was a big success. “

But the Korean refereeing is one aspect he’s still adjusting to, particularly the rule of three yellow cards equalling a one game suspension.

Next season he’s bracing for a mammoth campaign with a restructure of Korean club football to include relegation from 2013 to prevent a recurrence of a matchfixing crisis that recently shook the game there.

A 30-game campaign will be followed by a top eight and bottom eight play-off series, which will decide who plays in a rejigged K-League structure featuring two divisions, with promotion and relegation from 2013.

“I think we will be playing a English Championship type season, with probably two games a week for most of the season,” he said.

The English-born defender heads back to Korea to begin pre-season on January 5.

And it’s going to be a grueling month to prepare for the new season with the Dragons in Japan for 25 days, playing a friendly match every three days.

Little wonder Cornthwaite has planned a program of of injury prevention and core stability work at the gym three times a week while on holiday in Oz.

He added: “I see Asia as a fantastic opportunity, not as a stepping stone so much but just to play at a high level.

"Obviously it's a new culture and learn a new way of football - everything about it is appealing to me and if it leads to something else great, and if not, I am more than happy to be playing in Korea.

“I probably think the J-League is still the number one [league in Asia]. I think the style of football is a little bit different as well.

"I think as much as the Koreans are very technical they are also quite physical, and it’s quite a high pace, physical league whereas I think the Japanese are a little bit more technical, a little bit slower and a bit more tactical.”

And if Socceroo coach Holger Osieck is looking for a player who can handle the pace of the best in the AFC as well as provide a nuisance up front with timely goals, Cornthwaite must surely be in the German’s thoughts.

“Holger obviously picks players who are playing well in any league,” said Cornthwaite, who already has one Socceroos cap.

“We’ve seen that Mitch Nichols got a call up and he’s been doing fantastic in the A-League and boys like Sasa [Ognenovski] and Luke DeVere have been getting called up from the K-League.

"If I continue to do well and continue playing as many games as possible and help the team as much as I can, you never know what’s coming.

“I am enjoying my football more than ever and playing better than I have played for a long, long time and if any rewards come from that then great - and if not, I will continue to do well in Korea.”

Follow me on Twitter @Aidothejourno