2024 K League: Top 5 University Rookies
A look at some of the best uni players' debut season in K League
The idea for this piece was inspired by, the always fantastic and insightful Gamba Osaka Blog. The university system in Korea performs a similar role to its counterpart in Japan, providing players with a competitve environment with some elite coaching to hone their skills before moving into the professional realm of football. There’s been a number of successful transitions between the two in recent years including Gwangju FC’s Kim Jin-ho, Daegu FC’s Hwang Jae-won and FC Seoul’s Kim Shin-jin. Usually the cream of the crop of Korean youth go straight into the professional clubs at 17-18 while at or after high school, but the diamonds in the rough exist within the university system. This year produced a solid number of rookies who have forced their way into the manager’s plans to earn some experience and helps their respective teams.
Park Jin-young
Club: Daegu FC
Squad number: 40
DOB: May, 13th 2002
Height: 188cm
Joined: January, 3rd 2024
Position: CB/DM
Career History: Yeongdeungpo High School, Hongik University 2021-23
Transfermarkt Market Value: €200,000
2024 Stats: 17 starts, 20 appearances 1,580 minutes, 1 assist.
Daegu FC’s success in the university market is well-known, with Hwang Jae-won also coming from Hongik University. The April appointment of Head Coach Park Chang-hyeon from the same university no doubt accelerated Park Jin-young’s pathway to the first team. In fact, Park has handed a number of debuts to the team’s younger members, but it’s been Park who has made the biggest impact.
Park’s composure on the ball and passing have made him a useful asset as Daegu have tried to become more proactive in possession. Park has been asked to play in defensive midfield at times and has adapted well to the demands of first-team football. He lacks some positional sense and doesn’t have great acceleration, but for a rookie, he has done a great job and fully paid back the faith shown in him by his manager. His passing stats of 88% completion and winning 66% of defensive duels per 90 show this.
Jin Jun-seo
Club: Gangwon FC
Squad number: 15
DOB: February, 21st 2005
Height: 182cm
Joined: July, 4th 2024
Position: CF/LW
Career History: Gwacheon High School, Incheon University Jan 2024-July 2024
Transfermarkt Market Value: N/A
2024 Stats: 4 appearances, 50 minutes, 1 goal.
Limited minutes for Jin, who joined in the summer, but it won’t be long before we start seeing more of him. Strength, speed, and an eye for goal are some of the best attributes that the 19-year-old has already displayed. Jin has also gained experience at the international youth level, which in part has limited his appearances for Gangwon in recent months. He has a record of three goals in five appearances for the KNT U19. For Gangwon, he grabbed his debut goal, already becoming the 6th youngest scorer in the K League. The goal came in the 4-2 win over Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors and came from a knockdown from a corner. Jin was first to react and, on the swivel, turned the ball goalwards and into the back of the net from 6 yards, showing off some ‘fox in the box’ character.
Kim Dong-jin
Club: Pohang Steelers
Squad number: 88
DOB: July, 30th 2003
Height: 181cm
Joined: January, 2nd 2024
Position: CM
Career History: Gimcheon U18, Hannam University 2022-2023
Transfermarkt Market Value: €200,000
2024 Stats: 25 appearances, 6 starts, 619 minutes, 1 goal.
https://www.transfermarkt.com/dong-jin-kim/profil/spieler/904068
Pohang’s left-footed maestro has had a very productive first year at the club, amassing an impressive 619 minutes and not looking out of place when coming on late or in his six starts. Kim has displayed a good passing range and cohesion in the Pohang midfield. His long-range passing accuracy is something he will need to improve, with a much lower success rate compared to his midfield competitors Han Chan-hee and Kim Jong-woo. He won the 2023 Outstanding Player Award at University and is part of the KNT U20 setup.
Jung Seung-bae
Club: Suwon FC
Squad number: 44
DOB: November, 9th, 2003
Height: 172 cm
Joined: January, 1st 2024
Position: CF, LW
Career History: Yeouido High School, Hannam University 2022-2023
Transfermarkt Market Value: €75,000
2024 Stats: 6 appearances, 3 starts, 190 minutes.
Jung has been used sparingly by Suwon FC but has made a number of appearances in his rookie season. After an unsuccessful trial with IF Elfsborg, he joined Suwon at the start of the season and has been involved with the KNT U20 this season. Despite his diminutive frame, Jung holds the ball well under pressure and has shown good tactical understanding across several different positions this season. At times, he has struggled to get involved in the final third, and this will be an area for him to improve beyond his rookie season.
Moon Min-seo
Club: Gwangju FC
Squad number: 88
DOB: February, 18th, 2004
Height: 181 cm
Joined: January, 8th 2024
Position: CM, LM
Career History: Geumho High School, Dankook University 2023
Transfermarkt Market Value: €1M75,000
2024 Stats: 26 appearances, 23 starts, 1185 minutes, 2 goals
It’s not often you see a just-turned 20-year-old step up to the penalty spot and stroke the ball home on their professional debut, but that’s what Moon Min-seo did. Fresh out of university and looking completely unfazed, Moon has been the best university rookie of the season. If his first goal was the height of composure in youth, then his second was beyond his years; his goal opened the scoring against Suwon FC in late April.
Capable with both feet and tactically adept in Gwangju’s complex positional play, Moon was key in the Gwangju U18 youth team that reached the final of the 2021 K League Youth Championship. This season, he has found himself coming off the left side more often than his naturally central position but has been an important player for the team, showing solid defensive positioning, good range of passing, and excellent off-the-ball movement. All of which makes him my pick for University Rookie of the Season.