Choi Jun (Korean최준; born 17 April 1999) is a South Korean footballer currently playing as a full-back for FC Seoul.[1]

Choi Jun
Choi in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1999-04-17) 17 April 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth South Korea
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Full-back, Midfielder
Team information
Current team
FC Seoul
Number 16
Youth career
2015-2017 Ulsan Hyundai
2018–2019 Yonsei University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020 Ulsan Hyundai 0 (0)
2020Gyeongnam FC (loan) 20 (2)
2021-2023 Busan IPark 92 (4)
2024– FC Seoul 35 (1)
International career
2018-2019 South Korea U20 23 (3)
2021-2023 South Korea U23 10 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Korea
Asian Games
Gold medal – first place 2022 Hangzhou Team
AFC U-19 Championship
Runner-up 2018 Indonesia
FIFA U-20 World Cup
Runner-up 2019 Poland
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 10 November 2024
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2023 (UTC)
Choi Jun
Hangul
최준
Hanja
崔俊
Revised RomanizationChoe Jun
McCune–ReischauerCh'oe Chun

He is considered one of the most promising players of his generation in South Korea, regarding his versatility (mainly used as a right-back, he can also play as a left-back, a wing-back or a midfielder), his pace, his technique and his work rate.[2][3]

Club career

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The beginnings

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A product of K League 1 Ulsan Hyundai's academy and a graduate from Yonsei University, in 2020 he moved to Ulsan's senior team, after his performances for the national youth teams gained the attention of scouts from several European clubs.[2] However, as the "Horangi" could already count on more experienced players such as Park Joo-ho (on the left side) and Kim Tae-hwan (on the right), Choi was soon loaned to K League 2 side Gyeongnam, where he consequently played his first professional season.[3]

Gyeongnam

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He made his professional debut on July 1, 2020, playing the entirety of a Korean FA Cup match against Jeonnam Dragons, with his side eventually suffering a 4–0 away loss. Being at the start of his senior career, Choi initially had mixed fortunes in Changwon, registering two assists but also five yellow cards in his first ten matches with Gyeongnam.[3] However, as the season progressed he was praised for showing a hard-working attitude and a good chemistry with his team-mates on the right wing (alternatively, Ko Kyung-min or Negueba).[3] On October 25, 2020, he registered his first goal ever, by netting the winner in a 4–3 away win against Bucheon FC 1995.[3]

As Gyeongnam gained a spot in the promotion play-offs, Choi had the opportunity to take part in two more matches: a 1–1 draw against Daejeon Hana Citizen (Gyeongnam advanced to the following round due to a better placement in the regular league table) and the final against Suwon FC. In this occasion, Choi scored the opening goal of the match, but then An Byong-jun equalized, scoring a penalty kick in the final moments of injury time and giving Suwon the promotion to K League 1, again due to better placement.[3]

Choi closed his experience in Changwon having registered 20 league appearances and two goals.[citation needed]

Busan IPark

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Once returned to Ulsan, Choi soon joined Busan IPark (who had just been relegated in K League 2) on a permanent basis, together with fellow team-mates Jung Hoon-sung and Lee Sang-heon, as part of the operation that brought Lee Dong-jun to the "Horangi".[1][4]

FC Seoul

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On 5 January 2024, Jun joined FC Seoul.[5]

International career

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He has frequently represented South Korea at Under-19 and Under-20 level.[citation needed]

In 2018, he took part both in the Toulon Tournament, where the South Korean selection was eliminated in the group stage,[6] and the AFC Under-19 Championship, where his side reached the final before losing 1–2 to eventual winners Saudi Arabia.[7]

In 2019, he was selected by head coach Chung Jung-yong to take part in the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Poland, being one of the only two players in South Korea's 21-men list (together with Jeong Ho-jin) who hadn't started their senior career, yet. Used as a left-back,[2] he played every match of his side, assisting Oh Se-hun's winner against Japan in the round of 16 and scoring, in order, one penalty in South Korea's successful shoot-out against Senegal (in the quarter-finals) and the only goal of the victory against Ecuador in the semi-finals.[8][9][10] As a result, he played a considerable role in the Taeguk Warriors' road to the tournament's final, then lost to Ukraine with the score of 3–1.[2][11]

Career statistics

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Club

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As of 10 November 2024.[12]
Club Season League Korea Cup Play-offs Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ulsan Hyundai 2020 K League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Gyeongnam FC (loan) 2020 K League 2 20 2 1 0 0 0 21 2
Busan IPark 2021 30 2 0 0 0 0 30 2
2022 31 0 1 0 0 0 32 0
2023 31 2 0 0 2 1 33 3
FC Seoul 2024 K League 1 35 1 2 0 0 0 37 1
Career total 147 7 4 0 2 1 153 8

Honours

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International

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South Korea U19

South Korea U20

South Korea U23

Individual

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References

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  1. ^ a b Marcantonio, Tomas. "Busan IPark - Transfer Updates". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Jeong, Yun-Cheol (15 June 2019). "European football clubs eye young S. Korean players". The Dong-a Ilbo. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Edrupt, James. "2020 Season Review: Gyeongnam FC". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  4. ^ Wilde, Todd (8 February 2021). "Busan IPark have announced the signing of Korean youth international Choi Jun from Ulsan Hyundai. Choi is the second player to join the club as part of the Lee Dong-jun transfer. One more set to be announced..." Twitter. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  5. ^ "FC서울, 측면 수비수 최준 영입…"수비 안정성 더해"". Seoul Broadcasting System. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Festival International Espoirs". festival-foot-espoirs.com. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  7. ^ a b "Saudi Arabia emerge champions | Football | News | AFC U-19 Championship 2020". the-AFC. Retrieved 10 February 2021.
  8. ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Sehun heads Korea Republic into quarter-finals". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 7 June 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  9. ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Korea Republic complete thrilling comeback on penalties". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 9 June 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  10. ^ FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Korea Republic edge Ecuador to set up historic final". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 11 June 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  11. ^ a b FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Spirited comeback earns Ukraine first U-20 title". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on 15 June 2019. Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  12. ^ Choi Jun at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 July 2020.
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