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South Korea national football team facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
This page is about the men's team. For the women's team, see South Korea women's national football team.
Quick facts for kids
Korea Republic
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s) Taegeuk Warriors (Hangul: 태극전사)
Tigers of Asia (Hangul: 아시아의 호랑이)
Association Korea Football Association (KFA)
Confederation AFC (Asia)
Sub-confederation EAFF (East Asia)
Head coach Hong Myung-bo
Captain Son Heung-min
Most caps Cha Bum-kun
Hong Myung-bo (136)
Top scorer Cha Bum-kun (58)
FIFA code KOR
First colours
Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current 38 Increase 15 (7 February 2019)
Highest 17 (December 1998)
Lowest 69 (November 2014 – January 2015)
First international
 South Korea 5–3 Mexico 
(London, England; 2 August 1948)
Biggest win
 South Korea 16–0 Nepal   
(Incheon, South Korea; 29 September 2003)
Biggest defeat
 South Korea 0–12 Sweden 
(London, England; 5 August 1948)
World Cup
Appearances 11 (first in 1954)
Best result Fourth place (2002)
Asian Cup
Appearances 15 (first in 1956)
Best result Champions (1956, 1960)
EAFF Championship
Appearances 10 (first in 2003)
Best result Champions (2003, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019)
Confederations Cup
Appearances 1 (first in 2001)
Best result Group stage (2001)
Medal record
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
Gold 1956 Hong Kong Team
Gold 1960 South Korea Team
Silver 1972 Thailand Team
Silver 1980 Kuwait Team
Silver 1988 Qatar Team
Silver 2015 Australia Team
Bronze 1964 Israel Team
Bronze 2000 Lebanon Team
Bronze 2007 Indonesia/Malaysia
/Thailand/Vietnam		 Team
Bronze 2011 Qatar Team
Asian Games
Gold 1970 Bangkok Team
Gold 1978 Bangkok Team
Gold 1986 Seoul Team
Silver 1954 Manila Team
Silver 1958 Tokyo Team
Silver 1962 Jakarta Team
Bronze 1990 Beijing Team
EAFF Championship
Gold 2003 Japan Team
Gold 2008 China Team
Gold 2015 China Team
Gold 2017 Japan Team
Gold 2019 South Korea Team
Silver 2010 Japan Team
Silver 2022 Japan Team
Silver 2025 South Korea Team
Bronze 2013 South Korea Team
South Korea national football team
Hangul
대한민국 축구 국가대표팀
Hanja
大韓民國 蹴球 國家代表팀
RR Daehanminguk chukgu gukgadaepyotim
MR Taehanmin'guk ch'ukku kukkadaep'yot'im

The South Korea national football team (Korean: 대한민국 축구 국가대표팀), also known as Korea Republic by FIFA, represents South Korea in international soccer games for men. The Korea Football Association (KFA) manages the team. They are part of FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

South Korea has become a strong soccer team in Asia since the 1980s. They have played in eleven FIFA World Cup tournaments, including ten in a row. This is more than any other Asian country. Even though they didn't win a match in their first five World Cups, South Korea made history in 2002. They became the first (and only) Asian team to reach the semi-finals when they co-hosted the tournament with Japan. The team has also won the AFC Asian Cup twice and finished second four times. They have also earned three gold and three silver medals at the Asian Games.

Fans and media often call the team the "Reds" because of their main uniform color. Their official fan group is called the Red Devils.

Team Identity

Team Names

The South Korea national football team has a few cool nicknames. They are known as the Taegeuk Warriors (Hangul: 태극전사) and the Tigers of Asia (Hangul: 아시아의 호랑이).

Uniforms and Team Badge

Red is the main color for South Korea's home uniform. This is why they are called the "Reds," and their fans are the "Red Devils." Their away uniform has been either white or black. In 1994, the home uniform changed to white, but red came back as the home color in October 1995.

South Korea used to wear the country's flag on their shirts until 2001. That's when they showed off their new tiger badge. On February 5, 2020, the KFA revealed an even newer, simpler logo. This new badge still has the tiger, but it's a more modern design inside a rectangle. The traditional colors of red, blue, and white are still part of the new logo.

Uniform Sponsors

Kit supplier Period Notes
Adidas, Asics, Kolon Sports, Pro-Specs, Weekend 1977–1986 South Korea worked with Adidas as their first official uniform sponsor.
Rapido [ko] (Weekend) 1987–1995 They signed a long-term deal with Weekend (later called Rapido) in 1987.
Nike 1996–present Nike has been their sponsor since January 1, 1996.

Home Stadiums

The South Korea national team played their first home game at the Dongdaemun Stadium on April 21, 1956. This game was a qualifier for the 1956 AFC Asian Cup against the Philippines. Today, they play their home matches at several different stadiums. These stadiums are also used by clubs in the K League.

Team Rivalries

South Korea's biggest rival is Japan. This rivalry goes beyond soccer and has sometimes caused arguments in the past. South Korea has won more games against Japan, with 42 wins, 23 draws, and 17 losses.

They also have a strong rivalry with Iran. These two teams have played 33 official matches since 1958, including eleven World Cup qualifiers. South Korea and Iran were among the best Asian teams in the 1960s and 1970s. Iran has won more games against South Korea, with 13 wins, 10 draws, and 10 losses.

Another important rival is Australia. In 29 games, both teams have won 9 times, and 11 games ended in a draw. They have met four times in the Asian Cup. In the 2015 final, Australia won 2–1 after extra time to win their first Asian championship.

South Korea has had great success against China. China did not beat South Korea in a competitive match for 32 years until 2010. They also have a rivalry with North Korea. However, they don't play each other often due to political reasons.

Supporters

The official fan group for the national team is called the Red Devils. They were started in 1995. They are known for their strong support and are often called the "12th man" because of how much they help the team. Their most common chant is "Dae~ Han-Min-Guk" [ko] (Hangul: 대~한민국), followed by five claps.

The FIFA Fan Fest was first used at the 2002 World Cup in South Korea.

Recent Games

This is a list of South Korea's game results from the last year, and upcoming games.

      Win0       Draw0       Loss0       Fixture

2024 Matches

5 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification South Korea  0–0  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]] Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9 Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 59,579
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)
10 September 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Oman  1–3  South Korea Muscat, Oman
18:00 UTC+4
  • Jung Seung-hyun Goal 45+2' (o.g.)
Stadium: Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex
Attendance: 27,144
Referee: Ma Ning (China)
10 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Jordan  0–2  South Korea Amman, Jordan
17:00 UTC+3
  • Lee Jae-sung Goal 38'
  • Oh Hyeon-gyu Goal 68'
 Stadium: Amman International Stadium
Attendance: 14,655
Referee: Hiroyuki Kimura (Japan)
15 October 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification South Korea  3–2  Iraq Yongin, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Oh Se-hun Goal 41'
  • Oh Hyeon-gyu Goal 74'
  • Lee Jae-sung Goal 83'
  • Hussein Goal 50'
  • Bayesh Goal 90+5'
 Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 35,198
Referee: Rustam Lutfullin (Uzbekistan)
14 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Kuwait  1–3  South Korea Kuwait City, Kuwait
17:00 UTC+3
  • Daham Goal 60'
Stadium: Jaber Al-Ahmad International Stadium
Attendance: 22,791
Referee: Shaun Evans (Australia)
19 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]]  1–1  South Korea Amman, Jordan
17:00 UTC+3
  • Qunbar Goal 12'
Stadium: Amman International Stadium
Attendance: 2,405
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)

2025 Matches

20 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification South Korea  1–1  Oman Goyang, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Al-Busaidi Goal 80'
 Stadium: Goyang Stadium
Attendance: 35,212
Referee: Alireza Faghani (Australia)
25 March 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification South Korea  1–1  Jordan Suwon, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Lee Jae-sung Goal 5'
  • Kwon Kyung-won Goal 30' (o.g.)
 Stadium: Suwon World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 41,582
Referee: Ilgiz Tantashev (Uzbekistan)
5 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification Iraq  0–2  South Korea Basra, Iraq
21:15 UTC+3
  • Kim Jin-gyu Goal 63'
  • Oh Hyeon-gyu Goal 82'
 Stadium: Basra International Stadium
Attendance: 55,972
Referee: Yusuke Araki (Japan)
10 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification South Korea  4–0  Kuwait Seoul, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Al Hajeri Goal 30' (o.g.)
  • Lee Kang-in Goal 51'
  • Oh Hyeon-gyu Goal 54'
  • Lee Jae-sung Goal 72'
 Stadium: Seoul World Cup Stadium
Attendance: 41,911
Referee: Majed Al-Shamrani (Saudi Arabia)
7 July 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship South Korea  3–0  China Yongin, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Lee Dong-gyeong Goal 8'
  • Joo Min-kyu Goal 21'
  • Kim Ju-sung Goal 57'
 Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 4,426
Referee: Tuan Yaasin (Malaysia)
11 July 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship Hong Kong  0–2  South Korea Yongin, South Korea
20:00 UTC+9
  • Kang Sang-yoon Goal 27'
  • Lee Ho-jae Goal 67'
 Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 5,521
Referee: Ahmad A'Qashah (Singapore)
15 July 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship South Korea  0–1  Japan Yongin, South Korea
19:24 UTC+9
  • Germain Goal 8'
 Stadium: Yongin Mireu Stadium
Attendance: 18,418
Referee: Tuan Yaasin (Malaysia)
6 September Friendly United States  v  South Korea Harrison, New Jersey, United States
17:00 UTC−4 Stadium: Sports Illustrated Stadium
9 September Friendly Mexico  v  South Korea Nashville, United States
20:00 UTC−5 Stadium: Geodis Park
14 October Friendly South Korea  v  Paraguay South Korea

Coaching Staff

Hong Myung-bo became South Korea's 74th manager in July 2024.
Guus Hiddink is known as one of the most successful managers in South Korean football history.
Current Coaching Staff
Position Name
Manager South Korea Hong Myung-bo
Assistant manager Portugal João Aroso
Tactical coach Portugal Tiago Maia
Coaches South Korea Park Kun-ha
South Korea Kim Dong-jin
South Korea Kim Jin-kyu
Goalkeeping coach South Korea Yang Yeong-min
Fitness coaches South Korea Lee Jae-hong
South Korea Jung Hyun-gyu

Players

Current Team Squad

The players listed below were chosen for the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, which took place in July 2025.

Caps (games played) and goals are updated as of July 15, 2025, after the match against Japan.

No. Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club
1 1GK Lee Chang-geun (1993-08-30) 30 August 1993 (age 31) 3 0 South Korea Daejeon Hana Citizen
12 1GK Kim Dong-heon (1997-03-03) 3 March 1997 (age 28) 0 0 South Korea Incheon United
21 1GK Jo Hyeon-woo (captain) (1991-09-25) 25 September 1991 (age 33) 44 0 South Korea Ulsan HD
2 2DF Cho Hyun-taek (2001-08-02) 2 August 2001 (age 24) 1 0 South Korea Ulsan HD
3 2DF Lee Tae-seok (2002-07-28) 28 July 2002 (age 23) 7 0 South Korea Pohang Steelers
4 2DF Kim Ju-sung (2000-12-12) 12 December 2000 (age 24) 5 1 South Korea FC Seoul
14 2DF Park Seung-wook (1997-05-07) 7 May 1997 (age 28) 5 0 South Korea Pohang Steelers
15 2DF Kim Moon-hwan (1995-08-01) 1 August 1995 (age 30) 30 0 South Korea Daejeon Hana Citizen
16 2DF Seo Myung-gwan (2002-11-23) 23 November 2002 (age 22) 1 0 South Korea Ulsan HD
22 2DF Kim Tae-hyun (1996-12-19) 19 December 1996 (age 28) 1 0 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
24 2DF Byeon Jun-soo (2001-11-30) 30 November 2001 (age 23) 1 0 South Korea Gwangju FC
26 2DF Kim Tae-hyeon (2000-09-17) 17 September 2000 (age 24) 1 0 Japan Kashima Antlers
5 3MF Park Jin-seob (1995-10-23) 23 October 1995 (age 29) 8 1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
6 3MF Kim Jin-gyu (1997-02-24) 24 February 1997 (age 28) 12 3 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
7 3MF Na Sang-ho (1996-08-12) 12 August 1996 (age 29) 30 2 Japan Machida Zelvia
8 3MF Kim Bong-soo (1999-12-26) 26 December 1999 (age 25) 2 0 South Korea Daejeon Hana Citizen
10 3MF Lee Dong-gyeong (1997-09-20) 20 September 1997 (age 27) 12 2 South Korea Gimcheon Sangmu
11 3MF Moon Seon-min (1992-06-09) 9 June 1992 (age 33) 21 2 South Korea FC Seoul
13 3MF Kang Sang-yoon (2004-05-31) 31 May 2004 (age 21) 3 1 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
17 3MF Jeong Seung-won (1997-02-27) 27 February 1997 (age 28) 2 0 South Korea FC Seoul
20 3MF Lee Seung-won (2003-03-06) 6 March 2003 (age 22) 2 0 South Korea Gimcheon Sangmu
23 3MF Seo Min-woo (1998-03-12) 12 March 1998 (age 27) 3 0 South Korea Gangwon FC
25 3MF Mo Jae-hyeon (1996-09-24) 24 September 1996 (age 28) 2 0 South Korea Gangwon FC
9 4FW Joo Min-kyu (1990-04-13) 13 April 1990 (age 35) 11 3 South Korea Daejeon Hana Citizen
18 4FW Lee Ho-jae (2000-10-14) 14 October 2000 (age 24) 3 1 South Korea Pohang Steelers
19 4FW Oh Se-hun (1999-01-15) 15 January 1999 (age 26) 10 2 Japan Machida Zelvia

Recent Call-ups

The following players have also been called to the South Korea team within the last twelve months.


Pos. Player Date of birth (age) Caps Goals Club Latest call-up
GK Kim Kyeong-min (1991-11-01) 1 November 1991 (age 33) 0 0 South Korea Gwangju FC v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 19 November 2024
GK Kim Seung-gyu (1990-09-30) 30 September 1990 (age 34) 81 0 Japan FC Tokyo v.  Iraq, 15 October 2024
GK Kim Jun-hong (2003-06-03) 3 June 2003 (age 22) 0 0 United States D.C. United v.  Iraq, 15 October 2024
GK Song Bum-keun (1997-10-15) 15 October 1997 (age 27) 1 0 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v.  Oman, 10 September 2024
DF Kwon Kyung-won (1992-01-31) 31 January 1992 (age 33) 35 2 South Korea FC Anyang v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
DF Seol Young-woo (1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 26) 26 0 Serbia Red Star Belgrade v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
DF Cho Yu-min (1996-11-17) 17 November 1996 (age 28) 14 0 United Arab Emirates Sharjah v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
DF Choi Jun (1999-04-17) 17 April 1999 (age 26) 1 0 South Korea FC Seoul v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
DF Lee Han-beom (2002-06-17) 17 June 2002 (age 23) 1 0 Denmark Midtjylland v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
DF Jung Seung-hyun (1994-04-03) 3 April 1994 (age 31) 26 1 South Korea Ulsan HD v.  Jordan, 25 March 2025 INJ
DF Hwang Jae-won (2002-08-16) 16 August 2002 (age 23) 3 0 South Korea Daegu FC v.  Jordan, 25 March 2025
DF Kim Min-jae (1996-11-15) 15 November 1996 (age 28) 69 4 Germany Bayern Munich v.  Oman, 20 March 2025 INJ
DF Lee Myung-jae (1993-11-04) 4 November 1993 (age 31) 7 0 South Korea Daejeon Hana Citizen v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 19 November 2024
DF Lee Ki-hyuk (2000-07-07) 7 July 2000 (age 25) 1 0 South Korea Gangwon FC v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 19 November 2024
DF Hwang Mun-ki (1996-12-08) 8 December 1996 (age 28) 2 0 South Korea Pyeongchang United v.  Kuwait, 14 November 2024 INJ
DF Park Min-gyu (1995-08-10) 10 August 1995 (age 30) 0 0 Japan Hokkaido Consadole Sapporo v.  Iraq, 15 October 2024
DF Kim Young-gwon (1990-02-27) 27 February 1990 (age 35) 112 7 South Korea Ulsan HD v.  Oman, 10 September 2024
DF Choi Woo-jin (2004-07-18) 18 July 2004 (age 21) 0 0 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v.  Oman, 10 September 2024
MF Jeon Jin-woo (1999-09-09) 9 September 1999 (age 25) 2 0 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship INJ
MF Son Heung-min (1992-07-08) 8 July 1992 (age 33) 134 51 England Tottenham Hotspur v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Lee Jae-sung (1992-08-10) 10 August 1992 (age 33) 98 15 Germany Mainz 05 v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Hwang Hee-chan (1996-01-26) 26 January 1996 (age 29) 73 16 England Wolverhampton Wanderers v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Hwang In-beom (1996-09-20) 20 September 1996 (age 28) 69 6 Netherlands Feyenoord v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Lee Kang-in (2001-02-19) 19 February 2001 (age 24) 38 11 France Paris Saint-Germain v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Bae Jun-ho (2003-08-21) 21 August 2003 (age 22) 8 2 England Stoke City v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Won Du-jae (1997-11-18) 18 November 1997 (age 27) 8 0 United Arab Emirates Khor Fakkan v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Yang Hyun-jun (2002-05-25) 25 May 2002 (age 23) 6 0 Scotland Celtic v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
MF Park Yong-woo (1993-09-10) 10 September 1993 (age 31) 23 0 United Arab Emirates Al-Ain v.  Iraq, 5 June 2025 SUS
MF Paik Seung-ho (1997-03-17) 17 March 1997 (age 28) 21 3 England Birmingham City v.  Jordan, 25 March 2025 INJ
MF Eom Ji-sung (2002-05-09) 9 May 2002 (age 23) 3 1 Wales Swansea City v.  Jordan, 25 March 2025
MF Yang Min-hyeok (2006-04-16) 16 April 2006 (age 19) 1 0 England Tottenham Hotspur v.  Jordan, 25 March 2025
MF Jeong Woo-yeong (1999-09-20) 20 September 1999 (age 25) 22 4 Germany Union Berlin v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 19 November 2024
MF Hong Hyun-seok (1999-06-16) 16 June 1999 (age 26) 14 0 Germany Mainz 05 v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 19 November 2024
MF Lee Hyun-ju (2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 22) 1 0 Portugal Arouca v.  [[Palestinian National Authority {{{altlink}}}|Palestinian National Authority]], 19 November 2024
MF Lee Seung-woo (1998-01-06) 6 January 1998 (age 27) 12 0 South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors v.  Iraq, 15 October 2024
MF Kwon Hyeok-kyu (2001-03-13) 13 March 2001 (age 24) 0 0 Scotland Celtic v.  Iraq, 15 October 2024
MF Jung Woo-young (1989-12-14) 14 December 1989 (age 35) 76 3 South Korea Ulsan HD v.  Oman, 10 September 2024
MF Jeong Ho-yeon (2000-09-28) 28 September 2000 (age 24) 1 0 United States Minnesota United v.  Oman, 10 September 2024
FW Oh Hyeon-gyu (2001-04-12) 12 April 2001 (age 24) 19 4 Belgium Genk v.  Kuwait, 10 June 2025
Notes
  • INJ = Player was injured and could not play
  • SUS = Player was suspended and could not play

Famous Players

These players are recognized in the official Hall of Fame or were chosen for an all-time best team.

Korea Football Association Hall of Fame (2005)
  • Lee Hoe-taik
All-time Best XI by Munhwa Broadcasting Corporation and Gallup Korea (2002)
  • Lee Se-yeon
  • Lee Young-moo
  • Park Chang-sun
Experts' Best XI for the last 40 years by Best Eleven (2010)

Player Records

Players in bold are still playing for South Korea.

Most Games Played

Hong Myung-Bo
Hong Myung-bo has played the most games for South Korea, with 136 appearances.
Rank Player Games Goals Years Played
1 Cha Bum-kun 136 58 1972–1986
Hong Myung-bo 136 10 1990–2002
3 Son Heung-min 134 51 2010–present
4 Lee Woon-jae 133 0 1994–2010
5 Lee Young-pyo 127 5 1999–2011
6 Kim Ho-kon 124 5 1971–1979
7 Yoo Sang-chul 122 18 1994–2005
8 Cho Young-jeung 113 1 1975–1986
9 Kim Young-gwon 112 7 2010–present
10 Ki Sung-yueng 110 10 2008–2019

Top Goal Scorers

Cha Bum Kun
Cha Bum-kun is South Korea's top goal scorer with 58 goals.
Rank Player Goals Games Ratio Years Played
1 Cha Bum-kun 58 136 0.43 1972–1986
2 Son Heung-min 51 134 0.38 2010–present
3 Hwang Sun-hong 50 103 0.49 1988–2002
4 Park Lee-chun 36 89 0.4 1969–1974
5 Kim Jae-han 33 57 0.58 1972–1979
Lee Dong-gook 33 105 0.31 1998–2017
7 Choi Soon-ho 30 103 0.29 1980–1991
8 Kim Do-hoon 29 72 0.4 1994–2003
Huh Jung-moo 29 84 0.35 1974–1986
10 Choi Yong-soo 27 67 0.4 1995–2003
Lee Tae-ho 27 72 0.38 1980–1991
Kim Jin-kook 27 94 0.29 1972–1978

Tournament History

     Champions0      Runners-up0      Third place0   Tournament played on home soil

FIFA World Cup

South Korea has played in the FIFA World Cup many times. Their best result was reaching fourth place in 2002. South Korea at the FIFA World Cup

Summer Olympics

Football at the Summer Olympics has been a tournament for players under 23 years old since 1992.

Summer Olympics record Qualification record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad Pld W D L GF GA
1900 to 1908 Part of the Korean Empire Part of the Korean Empire
1912 to 1936 Part of Japan Part of Japan
United Kingdom 1948 Quarter-finals 2 1 0 1 5 15 Squad Directly qualified
Finland 1952 Did not enter Did not enter
Australia 1956 Did not qualify 2 1 0 1 2 2
Italy 1960 4 2 0 2 4 4
Japan 1964 Group stage 3 0 0 3 1 20 Squad 4 2 1 1 7 4
Mexico 1968 Did not qualify 5 4 1 0 17 5
West Germany 1972 4 3 0 1 16 2
Canada 1976 6 3 2 1 10 5
Soviet Union 1980 6 4 0 2 16 6
United States 1984 11 5 3 3 19 11
South Korea 1988 Group stage 3 0 2 1 1 2 Squad Qualified as hosts
1992 to present Entered with the under-23 team Entered with the under-23 team
Total Quarter-finals 8 1 2 5 7 37 3/11 42 24 7 11 91 39

AFC Asian Cup

South Korea has won the AFC Asian Cup twice. South Korea at the AFC Asian Cup

Asian Games

Football at the Asian Games has been a tournament for players under 23 years old since 2002.

Asian Games record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad
India 1951 Did not enter
Philippines 1954 Silver medalists 4 1 2 1 15 12 Squad
Japan 1958 Silver medalists 5 4 0 1 15 6 Squad
Indonesia 1962 Silver medalists 5 4 0 1 9 5 Squad
Flag of Thailand (TIS 982 draft standard).svg 1966 First round 2 0 0 2 0 4 Squad
Flag of Thailand (TIS 982 draft standard).svg 1970 Gold medalists 6 3 2 1 5 3 Squad
Iran 1974 Second round 5 1 1 3 4 10 Squad
Flag of Thailand (TIS 982 draft standard).svg 1978 Gold medalists 7 6 1 0 15 3 Squad
India 1982 Group stage 3 1 0 2 4 3 Squad
South Korea 1986 Gold medalists 6 4 2 0 14 3 Squad
China 1990 Bronze medalists 6 5 0 1 18 1 Squad
Japan 1994 Fourth place 6 3 0 3 17 7 Squad
Flag of Thailand (TIS 982 draft standard).svg 1998 Quarter-finals 6 4 0 2 12 6 Squad
2002 to present Entered with the under-23 team
Total Gold medalists 61 36 8 17 128 63 12/13

EAFF Championship

South Korea has won the EAFF Championship five times.

EAFF Championship record
Year Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad
Japan 2003 Champions 3 2 1 0 4 1 Squad
South Korea 2005 Fourth place 3 0 2 1 1 2 Squad
China 2008 Champions 3 1 2 0 5 4 Squad
Japan 2010 Runners-up 3 2 0 1 8 4 Squad
South Korea 2013 Third place 3 0 2 1 1 2 Squad
China 2015 Champions 3 1 2 0 3 1 Squad
Japan 2017 Champions 3 2 1 0 7 3 Squad
South Korea 2019 Champions 3 3 0 0 4 0 Squad
Japan 2022 Runners-up 3 2 0 1 6 3 Squad
South Korea 2025 Runners-up 3 2 0 1 5 1 Squad
Total Champions 30 15 10 5 44 21 10/10

Other Competitions

Competition Round Pld W D L GF GA Squad
United States 2000 CONCACAF Gold Cup Group stage 2 0 2 0 2 2 Squad
South Korea Japan 2001 FIFA Confederations Cup Group stage 3 2 0 1 3 6 Squad
United States 2002 CONCACAF Gold Cup Fourth place 5 0 2 3 3 7 Squad

Team Achievements

International Titles

  • Afro-Asian Cup of Nations
Med 1.png Champions: 1987

Asian Titles

Med 1.png Champions: 1956, 1960
Med 2.png Runners-up: 1972, 1980, 1988, 2015
Med 3.png Third place: 1964, 2000, 2007, 2011
  • Asian Games
Med 1.png Gold medalists: 1970, 1978, 1986
Med 2.png Silver medalists: 1954, 1958, 1962
Med 3.png Bronze medalists: 1990

Regional Titles

  • EAFF Championship
Med 1.png Champions: 2003, 2008, 2015, 2017, 2019
Med 2.png Runners-up: 2010, 2022, 2025
Med 3.png Third place: 2013

Other Tournament Wins

  • Korea Cup: 1971, 1974, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1985, 1987, 1991, 1997
  • Merdeka Tournament: 1960, 1965, 1967, 1970, 1972, 1975, 1977, 1978
  • King's Cup: 1969, 1970, 1971, 1973, 1974, 1975, 1998
  • Jakarta Anniversary Tournament: 1981
  • Dynasty Cup: 1990
  • LG Cup: 2000 (Iran), 2001 (Egypt), 2006 (Saudi Arabia)

Other Awards

  • FIFA World Cup Most Entertaining Team: 2002
  • AFC National Team of the Year: 2002, 2009
  • EAFF Championship Fair Play Award: 2008
  • AFC Asian Cup Fair Play Award: 2011

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Selección de fútbol de Corea del Sur para niños

  • Football in South Korea
  • South Korea national under-20 football team
  • South Korea national under-17 football team
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