South Korean Coach Hong Myung-bo has released his 2014 FIFA World Cup list. The surprise player that did not make the list is Mainz left back, Park Joo-ho who could not prove is fitness following a foot surgery he had in April. He played 27 matches for Mainz this season.
Meanwhile four other players plying their trade in the German Bundesliga made the list; the players are Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg), Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz) and Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg). There were five players from the top two tiers of the English league – Ki Sung-yueng (Sunderland), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff), Park Chu-young (Watford, on loan from Arsenal), Yoon Suk-young (QPR) and Lee Chung-yong (Bolton). Most of the players in the squad ply their trade at home in the K-league.
South Korea has been drawn in Group H with Belgium, Algeria and Russia. The team’s first match is against Russia on June 17 in Cuiaba, on June 22 against Algeria and the final group stage clash against Belgium on the June 26.
THE FULL SQUAD IS LISTED BELOW:
Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan), Lee Bum-young (Busan IPark).
Defenders: Kim Jin-su (Albirex Niigata), Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Yoon Suk-young (QPR), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg) Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan), Kim Chang-su (Kashiwa Reysol).
Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng (Sunderland), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jong-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen).
Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Watford), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan).