New Ulsan HD FC defender Yoon Jong-gyu poses in his uniform, in this photo provided by Ulsan on Jan. 2, 2025. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jan. 2 (Korea Bizwire) — Three-time defending K League 1 champions Ulsan HD FC announced their acquisition of defender Yoon Jong-gyu on Thursday, while their regional rivals Pohang Steelers locked down veteran midfielder Kim Jong-woo with a new contract.
Yoon, 26, made his K League debut in the second division with Gyeongnam FC in 2017, and then went on to play for FC Seoul in the top division from 2018 to 2022.
Yoon completed his mandatory military service as a member of another K League side, Gimcheon Sangmu FC, from 2023 to 2024. Yoon helped Gimcheon win the K League 2 title in 2023 and earn promotion to the K League 1 for 2024.
Then in the middle of the 2024 season, Yoon was discharged from the military and rejoined FC Seoul for 12 matches.
For his club career, Yoon has logged 160 matches, including 136 in the K League 1.
Yoon has played for the under-17, under-20, under-23 and senior national teams, having collected four caps for the main squad between 2020 and 2022.
Yoon was named to the team for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar but did not play in any of South Korea’s four matches.
The right fullback has been known for his motor and pace, and his ability to create offense from the back end, and Ulsan said those qualities will make Yoon an ideal fit in head coach Kim Pan-gon’s system.
“He has already appeared in 160 matches in the K League at age 26 and has proven himself on national teams across different age groups,” the club added in their statement. “He will join Ulsan as he is about to enter his athletic prime. Considering our style of play, we felt he would be a great addition.”
Yoon said he will try to live up to expectations of Ulsan and their supporters.
“In many ways, I will be writing a new chapter of my career with Ulsan,” Yoon added. “I will work hard during training camp and prepare myself for a good season.”
Ulsan will depart for Dubai next Monday to set up their offseason training camp. They will try to become only the second team in K League history to capture at least four consecutive titles, after Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors won five in a row from 2017 to 2021.
Ulsan’s East Coast rivals, Pohang, announced Thursday Kim Jong-woo, 31, will be back after spending the past two seasons with them.
The 31-year-old, dubbed the “King of Pohang,” had previously played for Suwon FC, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Gwangju FC in the K League.
Kim was an integral part of Pohang’s back-to-back Korea Cup championship squads. In the 2023 final, Kim scored the go-ahead goal in a 4-2 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and was named the MVP of the top national tournament. Then in last year’s final, Kim assisted the winning goal for Pohang in extra time, as they defeated Ulsan 3-1.
“I decided to re-sign with Pohang because I wanted to win a K League 1 title with this club,” said Kim, whose team finished sixth in the domestic league. “I am happy to be back with these teammates in the new year.”
(Yonhap)
