Choi Jun
Choi Jun (Korean: 최준; born 17 April 1999) is a South Korean footballer currently playing as a full-back for Busan IPark.[1]
| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 17 April 1999 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | South Korea | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Full-back | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Busan IPark | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 21 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015-2017 | Ulsan Hyundai | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | Yonsei University | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | Ulsan Hyundai | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2020 | → Gyeongnam (loan) | 20 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021- | Busan IPark | 76 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018-2019 | South Korea U20 | 23 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021-2023 | South Korea U23 | 10 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 4 June 2023 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 24 September 2023 (UTC) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Choi Jun | |
| Hangul | |
|---|---|
| Hanja | 崔俊 |
| Revised Romanization | Choe Jun |
| McCune–Reischauer | Ch'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
The beginnings
A product of K League 1 power-houses Ulsan Hyundai's academy and a graduate from Yonsei University, in 2020 he gained a move to Ulsan's senior team, after his impressive 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
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.
Busan IPark
Once returned to Ulsan, Choi got quickly destined to another transfer: in fact, he 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]
International career
He has frequently represented South Korea at Under-19 and Under-20 level.
In 2018, he took part both in the Toulon Tournament, where the South Korean selection was eliminated in the group stage,[5] and the AFC Under-19 Championship, where his side reached the final before losing 1-2 to eventual winners Saudi Arabia.[6]
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 single 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.[7][8][9] 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][10]
Career statistics
Club
- As of 4 June 2023.[11]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | 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 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 | ||
| Career total | 96 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 98 | 4 | ||
Honours
International
South Korea U19
- AFC U-19 Championship runner-up: 2018[6]
South Korea U20
- FIFA U-20 World Cup runner-up: 2019[10]
South Korea U23
References
- Marcantonio, Tomas. "Busan IPark - Transfer Updates". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- Jeong, Yun-Cheol (June 15, 2019). "European football clubs eye young S. Korean players". donga.com. Retrieved February 9, 2021.
- Edrupt, James. "2020 Season Review: Gyeongnam FC". K League United | South Korean football news, opinions, match previews and score predictions. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- Wilde, Todd (February 8, 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 February 9, 2021.
- "::: Festival International Espoirs :::". festival-foot-espoirs.com. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- "Saudi Arabia emerge champions | Football | News | AFC U-19 Championship 2020". the-AFC. Retrieved 2021-02-10.
- FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Sehun heads Korea Republic into quarter-finals - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on June 7, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Korea Republic complete thrilling comeback on penalties - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on June 9, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Korea Republic edge Ecuador to set up historic final - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on June 11, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- FIFA.com. "FIFA U-20 World Cup 2019 - News - Spirited comeback earns Ukraine first U-20 title - FIFA.com". www.fifa.com. Archived from the original on June 15, 2019. Retrieved 2021-02-09.
- Choi Jun at Soccerway. Retrieved 21 July 2020.