Kim Young-gwon facts for kids
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Kim in 2022
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Kim Young-gwon | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 27 February 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Jeonju, South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.86 m (6 ft 1 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Centre-back | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Current team
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Ulsan HD | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 19 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Jeonju Technical High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Jeonju University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010 | FC Tokyo | 23 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Omiya Ardija | 40 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2018 | Guangzhou Evergrande | 91 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2021 | Gamba Osaka | 76 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2022– | Ulsan HD | 112 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2009 | South Korea U20 | 20 | (2) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2012 | South Korea U23 | 23 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | South Korea Universiade | 6 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009 | South Korea (futsal) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010– | South Korea | 112 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Medal record
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| *Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 27 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 5 September 2024 |
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| Kim Young-gwon | |
| Hangul |
김영권
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| Hanja |
金英權
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| Revised Romanization | Gim Yeonggwon |
| McCune–Reischauer | Kim Yŏnggwŏn |
| IPA | [ki.mjʌŋ.ɡwʌn] or [kim.jʌŋ.ɡwʌn] |
Kim Young-gwon (Korean: 김영권; born on February 27, 1990) is a professional football player from South Korea. He plays as a centre-back for Ulsan HD and the South Korea national football team.
Contents
Early Life and Start in Football
Kim Young-gwon grew up in Jeonju, South Korea. When he was in middle school, some coaches thought he was too small to be a top player. But Kim started to dream of becoming a professional footballer after Hong Myung-bo, a famous national youth team manager, visited his high school.
Kim played college football and futsal for Jeonju University. In 2009, he won the Futsal League of the Korea Football Association and was the top scorer. Playing futsal helped him improve his football skills a lot.
Club Career Highlights
Starting in Japan
In 2010, Kim began his professional career with J1 League team FC Tokyo. He scored his first goal from a free kick in the 2010 J.League Cup. After his first season, FC Tokyo was moved down to a lower league. So, Kim moved to another team, Omiya Ardija.
Success in China
In July 2012, Kim joined Chinese Super League team Guangzhou Evergrande. He became a very important player for them. With Kim, Guangzhou Evergrande won four league titles in a row from 2013 to 2016. They also won the AFC Champions League twice in 2013 and 2015. Kim was chosen for the Chinese Super League Team of the Year every year during this time.
Return to Japan and Korea
After his time in China, Kim played for Gamba Osaka in Japan from 2019 to 2021. In 2022, he moved back to South Korea to play for Ulsan HD. He has continued to be a key player for Ulsan HD, helping them win the K League 1 championship in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
International Career Highlights
Youth and Early National Team Appearances
Kim's first big international event was the Universiade in 2009, where he played for the South Korean Universiade team. He also played for the South Korean under-20 team in the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He scored a goal against the United States, which helped South Korea move to the next stage. Kim also played futsal for the South Korea national futsal team in the 2009 Asian Indoor Games.
He won a bronze medal with the South Korean under-23 team at the 2010 Asian Games.
Olympic Medalist
At the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, Kim was a key player for the South Korean Olympic football team. They won the bronze medal, which was South Korea's first-ever Olympic football medal!
FIFA World Cup Journeys
Kim was part of South Korea's team for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. He played in all the group matches.
At the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, Kim showed amazing skills and became a leader for the South Korean defense. In their final group match against Germany, he scored a goal in the last minutes of the game. This goal, along with another by Son Heung-min, helped South Korea knock out the defending world champions!
Kim also played in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He scored a very important goal against Portugal, tying the score at 1-1. This goal, followed by Hwang Hee-chan's goal, helped South Korea reach the Round of 16. In the Round of 16, Kim played his 100th game for the national team against Brazil.
AFC Asian Cup and EAFF Championship
In the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, Kim scored a goal in the semi-final against Iraq, helping South Korea reach the final. South Korea finished as runner-up in that tournament. He also helped South Korea win the EAFF Championship in 2015 and 2019.
Personal Life
Kim Young-gwon got married to Park Se-jin in 2014. They have three children: a daughter and two sons. Kim has appeared on the TV show The Return of Superman with his two older children.
Honours and Awards
Kim Young-gwon has won many awards and championships throughout his career:
Team Honours
- Jeonju University
- Korean FA Futsal League: 2009
- Guangzhou Evergrande
- Chinese Super League: 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
- Chinese FA Cup: 2012, 2016
- Chinese FA Super Cup: 2016
- AFC Champions League: 2013, 2015
- Gamba Osaka
- Emperor's Cup runner-up: 2020
- Ulsan Hyundai
- K League 1: 2022, 2023, 2024
- South Korea U23
- Summer Olympics bronze medal: 2012
- Asian Games bronze medal: 2010
- South Korea
- AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2015
- EAFF Championship: 2015, 2019
Individual Awards
- Korean FA Futsal League top goalscorer: 2009
- Chinese Super League Team of the Year: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
- EAFF Championship Best Defender: 2015
- AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2015
- Korean FA Player of the Year: 2015
- J1 League Fans' Best XI: 2020
- K League 1 Best XI: 2022, 2023
- K League All-Star: 2023
- K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2023
Images for kids
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Kim playing for South Korea at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
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See also
In Spanish: Kim Young-gwon para niños
