Korea Republic women’s soccer team roster: players, profiles, stars

Here’s your guide to the Korea Republic side at the Women’s World Cup 2023. This article is part of a collaboration with the Guardian along with leading newspapers from each of the participating countries at the tournament.

Korea Republic player profiles written by Rachel Hur for Sports Donga.

Goalkeepers

Name - Kim Jung-mi

Date of Birth - 16 October 1984

Club - Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

Veteran keeper Kim Jung-mi has been a rock for the national side since 2003 and her club, Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, since 2004 – a genuine legend in South Korean women’s football. During her club’s run of 10 consecutive league titles between 2013 to 2023 she has always been No 1 when fit, though 2019 was lost to a knee injury. Colin Bell looks sure to give her the nod between the sticks again, for what will most likely be her final World Cup.

Name - Yoon Young-geul

Date of Birth - 28 October 1987

Club - BK Häcken

A very solid backup to first-choice Kim Jung-mi, Yoon plies her trade in Sweden’s top division with Häcken, having broken into European football thanks to the advice and backing of the national coach, Colin Bell. Known to follow a strict diet completely free of fizzy drinks, she boasts a wealth of experience and is hoping for a chance to prove herself, so she can keep building her club career. Her ambition: “I wish to do well so I can fulfil my dreams of playing in England.”

Name - Ryu Ji-soo

Date of Birth - 3 September 1997

Club - Seoul WFC

A late-starter in football, Ryu Ji-soo struggled to convince her parents that there was a career for her in the game. So she took matters into her own hands, calling the FA for a list of teams where she could try out. She eventually found a side during her second year of high school after impressing coaches in a two-month trial. Ryu has been the No 1 keeper for Seoul City Amazones WFC in the Korean WK League since replacing the retired Eun-ah Oh last year.

Name - Choi Ye-seul

Date of Birth - 12 March 1997

Club - Changnyeong Women FC

At primary school Choi was on the archery team, but when a coach spotted her potential as a footballer she didn’t look back. She started off playing in various positions in attack and central defence but eventually settled as a keeper, using her height to her advantage. The 26-year-old is naturally left-footed, but trained hard to be just as good with her right after feeling dissatisfied with her kicking ability and is Changnyeong’s No 1 in the Korean WK League.

Defenders

Name - Kim Hye-ri

Date of Birth - 25 June 1990

Club - Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

Captain for club and country. An effective right-back who can also operate in the centre, she brings real versatility and leadership. Kim claimed her spot on the Fifa Women’s Century Club list in June last year after earning her 100th international cap. A three-times Asian Games bronze medal winner, she lifted her ninth consecutive league title with The Red Angels this season. She has been best friends with national teammate Ji So-yun since primary school.

Name - Lim Seon-joo

Date of Birth - 27 November 1990

Club - Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

A key part of Colin Bell’s plans, Lim became the seventh player in South Korean football history to join the Fifa Women’s Century Club when she made her 100th international appearance in February, facing England in the 2023 Arnold Clark Cup. Known for an impressive touch and calm approach in possession, and for fearlessly strong tackles to break up play, she has struggled with injuries in recent years, but arrived for the tournament in good shape.

Name - Jang Sel-gi

Date of Birth - 31 May 1994

Club - Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

Hugely versatile - a great tournament quality - Jang can do a solid job as a winger, full-back or attacking midfielder. Yoon Deok-yeo, former head coach of the national team, once tipped her as “a player who will evolve into a pillar of Korean women’s football”, and she lived up to early promise, named Asian Young Footballer of the Year in 2013. She earned a move to Real Madrid in 2020, but her stay in Spain was cut short by Covid. She won KFA Player Of The Year in 2020.

Name - Hong Hye-ji

Date of Birth - 25 August 1996

Club - Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

A powerful presence known for dominating aerial battles and for her speed. She missed out on a place at the 2019 World Cup due to a ligament knee injury suffered in a training incident, so arrived at this tournament determined to make an impact. She made her international debut back in November 2015, and scored her first goal the following summer in a win over Myanmar. She currently plays for Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels in the WK League, having had spells at INAC Kobe Leonessa and Changnyeong WFC.

Name - Shim Seo-yeon

Date of Birth - 15 April 1989

Club - Suwon FC Women

A solid full-back who can also operate as a defensive midfielder, Shim is known for her high workrate, for putting constant pressure on opponents and for her strong leadership skills as one of the more experienced names in the squad. Injury problems have often held her back, though, with the worst of them coming in the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup match against China, when she tore her hamstring. But when fit she is a regular first-choice pick for Colin Bell.

Name - Choo Hyo-joo

Date of Birth - 29 July 2000

Club: Suwon FC Women

Choo calls herself an “attacking defender”, happy at full-back or on the wing, and is known for her impressive ball-skills, speed and dribbling, as well as her knack of scoring key goals. She was part of the national team at the 2019 EAFF E-1 Championships and the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, and certain similarities of style with Brazil’s Ronaldinho have earned her a neat nickname from fans: Choonaldinho. She says her dream is to experience playing overseas.

Midfielders

Name - Lee Young-ju

Date of Birth - 22 April 1992

Club - Real Madrid

Three years ago Lee became just the second Korean player after Jang Sel-gi to join Real Madrid. But in August 2022 she sustained a serious cruciate ligament injury, keeping her out of the first-team squad until the final game of the season when she made the bench against Barcelona. She proved her strength in time for this summer’s tournament, though, and is a valuable presence in Colin Bell’s squad, known for being supremely calm on the ball.

Name - Ji So-yun

Date of Birth - 21 February 1991

Club - Suwon FC Women

The side’s undisputed star, nicknamed Ji Messi for her poise and on-ball intelligence. She became the national team’s youngest ever player at 15 in 2006 and is currently the all-time top scorer. She was the first South Korean to play in the WSL when she joined Chelsea in 2014 and was named WSL player of the year in her first season. During her eight years in England she won six titles, four FA Cups and two League cups. She returned home in 2022 when her contract ended. If she hadn’t made it in football she says she’d have tried to become “a pianist or maybe a violinist … I wasn’t really interested in studying at school. I was always sleeping.”

Name - Kim Yun-ji

Date of Birth - 1 June 1989

Club: Suwon FC Women

Teammate Ji So-yun describes Kim as “a clever player who has great vision, great possession, and can be trusted at any time”. An attacking midfielder or second striker, Kim has spoken of her pride at making her first World Cup squad at the age of 33, having missed out in 2019 due to injury. Coach Colin Bell called her back into the reckoning in the build-up to the tournament – her first involvement with the South Korea squad since she made her debut aged 19.

Name - Jeon Eun-ha

Date of Birth - 28 January 1993

Club - Suwon FC Women

Much was expected after her outstanding display in the 2012 Under-20 World Cup, where her four goals earned her Korea’s player of the year award. But injuries during a crucial stage of her development stopped her hitting the heights many expected. She remains a real talent, though, often compared to the former Bolton and Crystal Palace winger Lee Chung-yong due to her skillful footwork and pace. A natural left-winger, she can operate in multiple positions in attack.

Name - Cho So-hyun

Date of Birth - 24 June 1988

Club - Tottenham

The former national team captain remains hugely well-respected in the squad: a charismatic personality and inspirational role model, with a wealth of top-level experience. Hard and resilient, she’s known by Korean media as ‘Chottuso’ thanks to her playing style matching that of the former Italy midfielder Gennaro Gattuso. She joined Spurs from West Ham in 2020, and recently took up Lego as a pastime, which she credits with helping her focus.

Name - Choe Yu-ri

Date of Birth - 16 September 1994

Club: Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

A regular pick since Colin Bell arrived as national manager. Choe is primarily a right-winger, but is adept on the left, too - often switching sides during games. Bell admires her for her speed and stamina, willingness to close down defenders and ability to exploit the space behind the defensive line during counters. Fans love her for her tenacity, too: she never gives up going forward or tracking back – and never shies away from launching into a heavy tackle.

Name - Moon Mi-ra

Date of Birth - 28 February 1992

Club: Suwon FC Women

Suwon’s captain earned her nickname, Steel Queen, for her strength, desire and razor-sharp goal-scoring instincts. A talented, versatile asset for coach Colin Bell this summer, she won bronze at the 2018 Asian Games and was also involved in the EAFF E-1 Football Championships. Her club teammate Ji So-yun describes her as “a great finisher and an intelligent player on the ball who has a great understanding of the game”.

Name - Kwon Da-eun

Date of Birth - 5 September 2007

Club: Ulsan Hyundai High school

Rated as one of the brightest new next-generation talents. Kwon’s father, Kwon Sung Bum, expressed his delight at his daughter’s call-up, calling it “truly a dream come true for the family. We’re so happy Da-eun will be able to experience her first World Cup with legendary senior players - and even being part of the training sessions will be an invaluable experience. We couldn’t be more proud.” Her dream is to play in England’s WSL, like her role model Ji So-yun.

Name - Kim Ye-eun

Date of Birth - 25 April 2007

Club - Gangwon Gangleung U18 Women

A big young talent, and an influential player for the national side in the under-17 Asian Cup. Skilled with both feet and full of creativity, she also packs a punch with her long-range shooting. Widely expected to be a central part of the nation’s emerging next generation, she will gain hugely useful experience in this tournament. It will be quite a summer: her role model, the former Chelsea midfielder Ji So-yun, is now her teammate.

Forwards

Name - Lee Geum-min

Date of Birth - 7 April 1994

Club - Brighton

Lee found life tough when she first moved to England with Manchester City in 2019: she didn’t speak English, had never lived alone before, struggled for playing time and, for months, ate digestive biscuits thinking they were a healthy snack. But things picked up when she joined Brighton in 2021 and moved in with two teammates. “I prefer to be with people,” she told the BBC. “I like to go to the seaside with them. British food is so delicious, especially the English chips! But I have to be careful with what I eat.” A real attacking talent, she scored three in a pre-tournament win over Zambia, and says her biggest role model is Cristiano Ronaldo.

Name - Chun Ga-ram

Date of Birth - 19 October 2022

Club - Hwacheon KSPO

Known for her speed, dribbling and scoring instinct, she was a first-choice pick in last year’s Under-20 World Cup in Costa Rica, playing the full 90 minutes in all three matches. She was named player of the match in the opener against Canada, and has earned herself a solid nickname: ‘Chun Messi’. Full of energy and enthusiasm, she is a great option for coach Colin Bell, and was named the KFA Young Player of the Year for 2022.

Name - Bae Ye-bin

Date of Birth - 7 December 2004

Club - Uiduk University

A hugely promising youngster whose pace and potential earned her a spot in Colin Bell’s squad. In her first interview with Korean media Bae expressed her honour at the call-up, but stayed modest: “My first goal is to be a player who can help the team. After that, I want to confidently execute the plays I can make, or just contribute to supporting my teammates.” Asked about her core skills, she said: “My two-footed kicking ability, ball control, and dribbling skills.”

Name - Jung Seol-bin

Date of Birth - 6 January 1990

Club: Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

An experienced attacking threat who has been in fine form for WK League champions Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. Known for a powerful, rasping shot and creative intelligence, she is also a real team player, happy dropping deep and tracking back to help the defence, making her a valuable tournament asset for coach Colin Bell. She made her international breakthrough back in 2006, so brings a wealth of know-how to this summer’s squad.

Name - Kang Chae-rim

Date of Birth - 23 March 1998

Club - Suwon FC Women

Nicknamed ‘Rimbappe’ after PSG star Kylian Mbappé. Kang has been one of the most consistent performers at national level under coach Colin Bell, reliably impressive with her speed, neat dribbling and unselfish style. Since Bell’s arrival she has scored the second-highest number of goals for the national team, only behind top scorer and team star Ji So-yun. A potent attacking, creative threat with plenty to offer this summer.

Name - Son Hwa-yeon

Date of Birth - 15 March 1997

Club: Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

Arrived at the tournament fresh from helping Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels win their tenth consecutive Korean WK League title. Known for her speed, agility and ability to spot and dart into dangerous gaps, Son represents a great option for Colin Bell both through the middle or on the wing. She is also a real threat from set pieces. She made her senior international debut back in 2016, scoring twice in a 5-0 win over Myanmar.

Name - Park Eun-sun

Date of Birth - 25 December 1986

Club - Seoul WFC

At 37 Park boasts a wealth of experience, having made her international debut in 2001 at the age of 15, and earned her first place in a World Cup squad back in 2003. Tall and strong, she has the ability to shake-up opposition defenders, and regained her scoring form on the international stage by scoring twice against Zambia in April - her first goals for South Korea in nine years. A powerful option for coach Colin Bell, and a big presence around the squad.

Name - Jang You-been

Date of Birth - 10 February 2002

Club - Seoul WFC

A rising star, used from the bench by coach Colin Bell in the buildup to this summer’s tournament. A natural, instinctive finisher, Jang scored seven goals in 11 appearances for the Under-17s, and is tipped by many as a future star for the senior side. She told Korean media before the World Cup that her aim is to develop the same confident self-belief as her footballing role model, teammate Choe Yu-ri.

Name - Won Ju-eun

Date of Birth - 9 March 2007

Club: Ulsan Hyundai High school

This is quite a moment for Won and her family: a World Cup footballer at just 16 years old. Captain and top scorer of her school side, which has won all the major national school league trophies, she also captains the national side at Under-17 level. Her most eye-catching strength is her speed, but she also seems mature beyond her years in one-on-one situations, and brings valuable versatile, able to do a job at centre-forward or out wide. Definitely one to watch.

Name - Casey Phair

Date of Birth - 29 June 2007

Club - Players Development Academy (US)

Born to an American father and South Korean mother, Phair is the national side’s first ever mixed-race player. Aged just 16 – and 15 when she was first called into the senior set-up – she was a surprise pick for this summer, but clearly has a huge future. She starred in the qualifiers for the Under-17 2024 Women’s Asian Cup, scoring twice against Tajikistan and three against Hong Kong, and has impressed at the New Jersey-based Players Development Academy.

Name - Lee Eun-young

Date of Birth - 31 March 2002

Club - Sejong Korea University

Colin Bell has worked hard to lower the average age of the national team since he took over in 2019, with Lee’s elevation to the senior squad a prime example. A highly-rated creative talent, she scored eight goals in 11 games for the Under-14 national team, and was watched by Bell in the national high school football tournaments. She uses her height well to create chances and says she is inspired by former national team striker Yeo Min-ji’s technically-gifted style.