It takes supporters of a distinguished age to recall when South Korea last won the continental title – John F Kennedy was still alive and The Beatles were a new band – but the Taegeuk Warriors want to claim a third title and banish the notion that they are perennial underachievers.
What to expect
South Korea won the competition in 1956 and 1960 but last reached the semi-finals in 2011. Well-equipped, South Korea should be among the top contenders, if not the main title candidates behind Japan.
With Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-Jae at the back, PSG’s Lee Kang-In as a creative force, and Premier League strikers Son Heung-Min and Hwang Hee-Chan, the Koreans have a strong spine with ample experience and pedigree in Europe’s best leagues. T
hat kind of quality should see South Korea cruise into the latter stages of the tournament when Jurgen Klinsmann and his team will have to deliver to end their 64-year drought.
Star player
Son Heung-Min is the undisputed talisman of the team as well as the continent’s number-one football star. Featuring upfront at Tottenham, his prolific goalscoring has made him a fan favourite.
He was the first Asian to win the Premier League Golden Boot award and to score more than 100 goals in the Premier League. Two-footed and versatile, he fuses great movement, pace and clinical finishing to torment defenders. His work rate is outstanding as well.
Manager
Jurgen Klinsmann has a name that resonates around the world, having played for Inter Milan, Tottenham and Bayern Munich before managing Germany and the United States among others, but he is not without his critics.
In the US, some argued that he was out of his depth as a manager. Korean supporters are upset that he seems to spend more time in California than in Seoul, but after a wobbly start, six consecutive wins have lifted the mood around the team.
Klinsmann knows he needs to win over the sceptics, and, while arguing that his team is ready, only victory will be good enough to do so.
Schedule
Monday, January 15, 2024, 2:30 pm: South Korea – Bahrain – Jassim bin Hamad Stadium, Doha
Saturday, January 20, 2024, 2:30 pm: Jordan – South Korea – Al Thumama Stadium, Doha
Thursday, January 25, 2024, 2:30 pm: South Korea – Malaysia – Al Janoub Stadium, Doha
Squad
| No. | Position | Name | Club Name (Country) | Caps | Goals |
| 1 | Goalkeeper | KIM SEUNGGYU | AL SHABAB (KSA) | 79 | 0 |
| 2 | Defender | LEE KIJE | SUWON SAMSUNG BLUEWINGS (KOR) | 11 | 0 |
| 3 | Defender | KIM JINSU | JEONBUK HYUNDAI (KOR) | 69 | 2 |
| 4 | Defender | KIM MINJAE | FC BAYERN MUNICH (GER) | 55 | 4 |
| 5 | Midfielder | PARK YONGWOO | AL AIN FC (UAE) | 7 | 0 |
| 6 | Midfielder | HWANG INBEOM | FK CRVENA ZVEZDA (SRB) | 49 | 5 |
| 7 | Midfielder | SON HEUNG MIN | TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR FC (ENG) | 116 | 41 |
| 8 | Midfielder | HONG HYUNSEOK | KAA GENT (BEL) | 4 | 0 |
| 9 | Forward | CHO GUESUNG | FC MIDTJYLLAND (DEN) | 30 | 8 |
| 10 | Midfielder | LEE JAESUNG | FSV MAINZ 05 (GER) | 77 | 9 |
| 11 | Midfielder | HWANG HEE CHAN | WOLVERHAMPTON WANDERERS (ENG) | 59 | 12 |
| 12 | Goalkeeper | SONG BUMKEUN | SHONAN BELLMARE (JPN) | 1 | 0 |
| 13 | Midfielder | LEE SOON MIN | GWANGJU FC (KOR) | 4 | 0 |
| 14 | Midfielder | MOON SEON MIN | JEONBUK HYUNDAI (KOR) | 16 | 2 |
| 15 | Defender | JUNG SEUNGHYUN | ULSAN HD FC (KOR) | 19 | 1 |
| 16 | Midfielder | PARK JINSEOB | JEONBUK HYUNDAI (KOR) | 1 | 0 |
| 17 | Midfielder | JEONG WOOYEONG | VFB STUTTGART (GER) | 15 | 3 |
| 18 | Midfielder | LEE KANGIN | PARIS SAINT-GERMAIN (FRA) | 18 | 4 |
| 19 | Defender | KIM YOUNGGWON | ULSAN HD FC (KOR) | 103 | 7 |
| 20 | Forward | OH HYEONGYU | CELTIC FC (SCO) | 7 | 0 |
| 21 | Goalkeeper | JO HYEONWOO | ULSAN HD FC (KOR) | 24 | 0 |
| 22 | Defender | SEOL YOUNGWOO | ULSAN HD FC (KOR) | 7 | 0 |
| 23 | Defender | KIM TAE HWAN | JEONBUK HYUNDAI (KOR) | 24 | 0 |
| 24 | Defender | KIM JUSUNG | FC SEOUL (KOR) | 2 | 0 |
| 25 | Defender | KIM JISOO | BRENTFORD FC (ENG) | 0 | 0 |
| 26 | Midfielder | YANG HYUNJUN | CELTIC FC (SCO) | 1 | 0 |
