33·Legends

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South Korea

The thirty-three greatest. Build your eleven, then settle the duels.

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The 33 of South Korea

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90 Son Heung-min 144 caps · 56 goals · Hamburger SV, Bayer 04 LeverkusenAgainst Burnley on 7 December 2019 he collected the ball outside his own penalty area and ran 71.4 metres past six defenders in eleven seconds before finishing, a goal that won him the FIFA Puskas Award. He captained Tottenham to the 2025 Europa League in Bilbao, shared the 2021/22 Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah on 23 goals as the first Asian winner, and led South Korea to Asian Games gold in 2018. LM2018–25

2 CB 89 Cha Bum-kun 129 caps · 56 goals · SV Darmstadt 98, Eintracht Frankfurt · Hall of Fame 2019Bayer Leverkusen trailed Espanyol 3-0 from the first leg of the 1988 UEFA Cup final when he scored the goal that made it 3-3 on aggregate and forced the shootout they went on to win. That was his second UEFA Cup after Eintracht Frankfurt's in 1980, making him the first to win the trophy with two German clubs, and he scored 98 goals in 308 Bundesliga games before the IFFHS named him Asia's player of the century. RM1980–88

89 Park Ji-sung 100 caps · 13 goals · Kyoto Sanga, PSV EindhovenUnited supporters called him Three-Lung Park, and the 2010 tie with Milan showed why: Ferguson gave him Andrea Pirlo, and he shadowed the Italian for 180 minutes, scoring himself in the 4-0 second leg at Old Trafford. Four Premier League titles, the 2008 Champions League and three League Cups came at Manchester United, where he was the first Asian player to start a Champions League final, in Rome in 2009. CM2008–10

4 HM 87 Hong Myung-bo 136 caps · FC Pohang Steelers, Shonan BellmareIn Gwangju on 22 June 2002 he walked up to take South Korea's fifth penalty against Spain and buried it, sending the hosts into a World Cup semi-final. He was voted the tournament's third best player and took the Bronze Ball, the first Asian to finish in a World Cup's top three, after 136 caps, four World Cups from 1990 to 2002 and a place in the 2002 All-Star team. CB1990–2002

5 KM 87 Kim Min-jae Naples called him il Mostro in his first season there, 2022/23, when he replaced Kalidou Koulibaly and played 35 of 38 league games for a side that had not won Italy since Maradona. That Scudetto came with Serie A's best defender award, the first for an Asian player, and he has since won consecutive Bundesliga titles at Bayern Munich, plus two K League crowns at Jeonbuk and Asian Games gold in 2018. CB2018–22

6 HS 85 Hwang Sun-hong 103 caps · 50 goals · FC Pohang Steelers, Cerezo OsakaTwenty-six minutes into the 2002 opener against Poland in Busan he met a cross on the volley with his left foot, and South Korea had their first World Cup win after forty-eight years of trying. Two Asian Club Championships with Pohang Steelers in 1997 and 1998 sit alongside 50 goals in 103 caps for South Korea and a J1 League top-scorer prize at Cerezo Osaka in 1999, when he scored 24 in 25. ST1997–2002

7 YS 85 Yoo Sang-chul 124 caps · Ulsan HD, Yokohama F. MarinosAlready eliminated and a goal down to Belgium at France 98, he lashed in the 72nd-minute equaliser that salvaged a 1-1 draw, then four years later scored South Korea's second in the Poland win that opened 2002. FIFA named him in the 2002 World Cup All-Star team after that run to the semi-finals, and he finished with 18 goals in 124 caps, a K League scoring title in 1998 and a place in the Best XI. CDM1998–2002

84 Ahn Jung-hwan 71 caps · 17 goals · Busan IPark, Shimizu S-PulseIn the 117th minute against Italy in Daejeon on 18 June 2002, he met Lee Young-pyo's cross with his head and sent the co-hosts into the quarter-finals, and Perugia terminated his contract the following day. Fourth place at that World Cup and selection in its All-Star team stand alongside the J1 League he won with Yokohama F. Marinos in 2004, the 1999 K League MVP award, and another World Cup goal against Togo in 2006. SS1999–2006

9 CS 84 Choi Soon-ho 97 caps · 30 goals · FC Pohang Steelers, FC SeoulItaly were defending the World Cup when he struck from outside the box in the 62nd minute at Puebla on 10 June 1986, and he set up Huh Jung-moo's late goal in the 3-2 defeat that followed. Six years earlier he had been the AFC Asian Cup's youngest ever top scorer at 18, and he went on to Asian Games gold in 1986, K League titles with POSCO and Lucky-Goldstar, and 30 goals in more than 90 caps. ST1980s

84 Ki Sung-yueng 110 caps · FC Seoul, CelticThirty-two minutes into the 2011 Scottish Cup final at Hampden he hit a left-footed drive from 25 yards, the goal that opened Celtic's 3-0 win over Motherwell. The Scottish title followed in 2012, then Olympic bronze in London that August and the League Cup with Swansea City in 2013 after a club-record transfer, with 110 caps and the South Korea captaincy behind him. CDM2011–13

11 KJ 84 Kim Joo-sung 76 caps · 14 goals · Busan IPark, VfL BochumKorean terraces called him Yasaengma, the Wild Horse, for the hair flying behind him as he drove the ball out of defence, and those runs carried South Korea to the 1988 Asian Cup final. Asian Footballer of the Year in 1989, 1990 and 1991, he took Asian Games gold in 1986, three K League titles with Daewoo Royals, the 1997 K League MVP award, and a place at three World Cups. LM1986–97

84 Lee Woon-jae 133 caps · Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Gimcheon SangmuJoaquín stepped up with Spain's fourth kick of the Gwangju shootout on 22 June 2002, and the goalkeeper Koreans called Geomison, Spider Hands, pushed it away to send the co-hosts into a World Cup semi-final. Clean sheets against Poland, Portugal and Spain came in that tournament, and he added four K League titles with Suwon Samsung Bluewings, the continental club title in 2002 and the 2008 K League MVP award across a career of more than 130 caps. GK2002–08

13 LY 84 Lee Young-pyo 127 caps · PSV Eindhoven, Tottenham HotspurThe cross that knocked Italy out on 18 June 2002 was his, 117 minutes gone in Daejeon, Ahn Jung-hwan climbing above Paolo Maldini to head the golden goal. South Korea finished fourth that summer, the best World Cup placing any Asian side has managed, and he added two Eredivisie titles at PSV, the 2008 League Cup at Tottenham, two Saudi Pro League crowns at Al-Hilal, the 2000 K League and 127 caps across three World Cups. LB2000–08

83 Hwang Hee-chan 75 caps · 16 goals · FC Red Bull Salzburg, FC LieferingOn 2 December 2022 in Qatar, Son Heung-min broke out of a Portugal corner, ran the length of the pitch and slid the ball through Diogo Dalot's legs for Hwang to score the 91st-minute winner. He won Asian Games gold in 2018, scoring in extra time of the final against Japan, took four Austrian titles at Salzburg, and in 2023 hit six goals in Wolves' first ten league games, a start unmatched at the club since Derek Dougan. SS2018–23

15 LD 83 Lee Dong-gook 103 caps · 33 goals · FC Pohang Steelers, Gimcheon SangmuHe finished on 1 November 2020, 41 years old, walking off after a 2-0 win over Daegu that made Jeonbuk champions for the eighth time in his twelve seasons at the club. The 2016 AFC Champions League sits at the top of his record, along with its all-time scoring mark of 30 goals, the K League's of 228, four league MVP awards, the 2000 Asian Cup golden boot and 105 caps for South Korea. ST2000–20

83 Lee Kang-in 29 caps · 10 goals · Valencia CF, RCD MallorcaValencia took him into their academy in July 2011, aged ten, and eight years later he left Poland with the Under-20 World Cup Golden Ball, two goals and four assists as Korea reached the final. Two Champions League titles followed with Paris Saint-Germain in 2025 and 2026, making him the second Korean to win it after Park Ji-sung, with three Ligue 1 crowns, two Coupes de France, the 2019 Copa del Rey and Asian Games gold in 2023. CAM2011–26

17 CJ 82 Choi Jin-cheul 65 caps · Jeonbuk Hyundai MotorsThe 2002 back three was Hong Myung-bo, Kim Tae-young and him, and he was still going four years later, voted best player of the 2006 AFC Champions League as Jeonbuk beat Al-Karamah 3-2 in the final. Fourth place at the 2002 World Cup remains the peak, with the 2006 Asian club title, three FA Cups in 2000, 2003 and 2005, the 2004 Super Cup, three K League Best XIs, 65 caps and two World Cups behind it. CB2000–06

82 Koo Ja-cheol 76 caps · 19 goals · Jeju SK, 1. FSV Mainz 05He captained the under-23s at London 2012 and scored the second goal in the bronze medal win over Japan, the first Olympic football medal Korea had ever won. He was top scorer at the 2011 Asian Cup with five goals as Korea took third, a runner-up in 2015, captain at the 2014 World Cup, and a Bundesliga regular for more than 200 games with Wolfsburg, Augsburg and Mainz, scoring Augsburg's first hat-trick in the top flight. CM2011–15

19 HJ 81 Huh Jung-moo 103 caps · 30 goals · Gyeongju Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, PSV EindhovenHis 89th-minute goal against Italy in Puebla on 10 June 1986 made it 3-2 and was the last thing Korea did at their first World Cup in 32 years; the terraces called him the Jindo dog for the way he covered ground. Two Asian Games golds came in 1978 and 1986, along with 104 caps and 30 goals for Korea and three seasons at PSV Eindhoven, before a coaching career that carried Korea to the last 16 in 2010. CAM1978–2010

81 Hwang In-beom Daejeon Hana Citizen, Asan MugunghwaIn Korea's 2026 World Cup opener he shaped to shoot, moved two Czech defenders out of the way and equalised in the 67th minute, then crossed for Oh Hyeon-gyu's winner thirteen minutes later in a 2-1 comeback. He won gold at the 2018 Asian Games, the Serbian league and cup double with Red Star in 2023-24 plus its Player of the Season award, the 2019 EAFF Championship as its MVP, and has 76 caps and seven goals for Korea. CM2018–26

21 KB 81 Kim Byung-ji 61 caps · Ulsan HD, FC Pohang SteelersOn 22 November 2014 he became the oldest man ever to play a K League match, at 44 years and seven months, and he carried on until retiring at 46. He holds the K League records for appearances and clean sheets, won the 1996 title with Ulsan and three League Cups, played every group game at the 1998 World Cup, was in the squad that finished fourth in 2002, and joined the K League Hall of Fame in 2025. GK1996–2025

22 KD 81 Kim Do-hoon 72 caps · 30 goals · Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Vissel KobeTwenty-eight goals in forty games for Seongnam in 2003 took him the K League scoring title and the MVP award in the same season the club were champions, and he had already led the scorers in 2000. He scored 30 goals in 72 games for Korea, played at the 1998 World Cup, won the 2003 East Asian Championship, was top scorer in the 2004 AFC Champions League, and later coached Ulsan to the 2020 continental title against Persepolis. ST1998–2020

81 Kim Nam-il 98 caps · Jeonnam Dragons, Vissel KobeThe Vacuum Cleaner was what Korean crowds called him, and at the 2002 World Cup he shielded the back three through all five matches to the quarter-final before an ankle injury kept him out of the semi-final against Germany. Fourth place there remains South Korea's best finish at a World Cup, and he added the 2008 East Asian Championship as its MVP, the 2014 K League title with Jeonbuk, and 98 caps across three World Cups. CDM2002–14

81 Lee Chung-yong 89 caps · 9 goals · FC Seoul, Bolton WanderersAt Soccer City on 17 June 2010 he robbed Martín Demichelis in first-half stoppage time and clipped the ball past Sergio Romero, the goal Korean fans replay whenever Argentina come around. He won 89 caps across two World Cups, took bronze at the 2011 Asian Cup, played 176 games for Bolton, and came home to lift the 2020 AFC Champions League and three straight K League titles with Ulsan, where he was voted MVP in 2022. RM2010–22

80 Cha Du-ri 76 caps · Eintracht Frankfurt, TuS KoblenzKorean fans called him the Chaminator, and on 22 January 2015 in Melbourne the name fit: 34, on as a substitute, he ripped down the right in extra time and squared for Son Heung-min to make it 2-0. He was in the squad that reached the 2002 World Cup semi-final, finished runner-up at the 2015 Asian Cup and made its Team of the Tournament, took bronze in 2011, and won a Scottish title and Scottish Cup at Celtic. RB2002–15

80 Cho Hyun-woo Daegu, Ulsan HDSeven saves in Kazan on 27 June 2018 made a household name of the third-choice goalkeeper, with Germany beaten 2-0 and the holders out at the group stage. He has three straight K League 1 titles with Ulsan from 2022 to 2024, the 2024 MVP award as only the second goalkeeper to win it, the 2018 FA Cup with Daegu, Asian Games gold that same year, and eight consecutive Best XI selections. GK2018–24

27 KT 80 Kim Tae-young Christian Vieri's elbow broke his nose in the 2002 round of 16 against Italy, so he played the rest of the tournament in a moulded mask that shifted and stung whenever he headed the ball. He won 105 caps between 1992 and 2004, held the back three with Hong Myung-bo and Choi Jin-cheul that carried Korea to fourth place on home soil, and took the 1997 FA Cup with Jeonnam and K League Best XI in 2002 and 2003. CB1992–2004

28 CK 79 Cho Kwang-rae 95 caps · 15 goals · FC Pohang Steelers, Gimcheon SangmuAt the 1986 Asian Games in Seoul he opened the scoring in the semi-final and again in the final, a win over Saudi Arabia he later named the best match of his career. The Computer, as Korea knew him, won Asian Games gold in 1978 and 1986, reached the 1980 Asian Cup final, played at the 1986 World Cup, and took the 1985-86 Asian Club Championship plus K League titles in 1984 and 1987 with Daewoo Royals. CM1978–87

29 KJ 79 Ko Jong-soo 38 caps · 6 goals · Suwon Samsung Bluewings, Kyoto SangaIn Korea they named the turf in front of and to the right of the penalty arc after him, because a dead ball there and that left foot usually meant a goal. He was voted K League MVP in 1998 at twenty as Suwon took their first title, then won the league again in 1999 and 2004, back-to-back Asian Club Championships in 2001 and 2002, four League Cups, and 38 caps including the 1998 World Cup. CAM1998–2004

30 PK 79 Park Kyung-hoon 94 caps · FC Pohang Steelers, YeadingMexico City, 2 June 1986: he came on for the last half-hour against Argentina with Diego Maradona to watch, and Park Chang-sun struck South Korea's first World Cup goal in the 73rd minute. He won 93 caps, took gold at the 1986 Asian Games and silver at the 1988 Asian Cup, where he made the team of the tournament, and lifted three K League titles with POSCO plus the 1988 MVP award he tried to give back. RB1986–88

31 CY 78 Cho Young-jeung 109 caps · Portland Timbers, Chicago StingA sweeper by trade, he scored in six consecutive K League matches in 1984, a run that stood until Hwang Sun-hong broke it in 1995, and in 1982 he had already made the NASL All-Star first team with the Portland Timbers. Mexico 1986 was his World Cup, framed by Asian Games gold in Bangkok in 1978 and Seoul in 1986, the 1980 Asian Cup final, the 1985 K League with Lucky-Goldstar Hwangso, and 113 caps in eleven years. CB1978–95

78 Kim Jin-su 74 caps · Albirex Niigata, TSG 1899 HoffenheimWith the first period of extra time running out against Bahrain in Dubai on 22 January 2019, he rose to Lee Yong's cross and headed South Korea into the Asian Cup quarter-finals. Five K League 1 titles with Jeonbuk between 2017 and 2021 head his record, along with two Korean FA Cups, Asian Games gold in 2014, the 2015 Asian Cup final, two East Asian championships and 74 caps. LB2014–21

33 KH 77 Kim Ho-kon 120 capsThe Asian Games final of 20 December 1978 was the first meeting between South and North Korea, and he captained the South through 120 goalless minutes to a shared gold. He won 124 caps between 1971 and 1979, finished runner-up at the 1972 Asian Cup, made the Korean FA Best XI eight years running from 1972, was named Korea's player of the year in 1975 and later joined Asia's team of the 20th century. CB1971–79

About this XI

South Korea's pool is led by Son Heung-min, Cha Bum-kun and Park Ji-sung. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 10 defenders, 14 midfielders and 6 forwards. Son Heung-min leads the pool at 90 overall. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.

Who is the greatest South Korea footballer of all time?

In the 33 Legends editorial ranking, Son Heung-min leads South Korea with an overall rating of 90. The editorial top five: Son Heung-min, Cha Bum-kun, Park Ji-sung, Hong Myung-bo, Kim Min-jae. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.

How were these 33 South Korea players chosen?

The pool covers every position across South Korea's football history. Ratings weigh peak level, longevity, honours and historical standing, then the full methodology page explains the tiers. Fan votes in the duels build a second, independent ranking.

Which South Korea players reach the Immortal tier or higher?

None yet. Son Heung-min leads the South Korea pool at 90, in the Legend tier.

Can I build and share my own South Korea all-time XI?

Yes. Pick one of eight formations, drag any of the 33 onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.