Ji So-yun brings wisdom, experience and winning spirit to Korean women's football
“I am thinking about retiring after reaching 200 appearances for the national team.” Ji So-yun, a living legend of Korean women's football, has set a clear target for the final chapter of her international career: reaching 200 games before hanging up her cleats. The 35-year-old Suwon FC Women midfielder won a bronze medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and is now in her 20th year as a…
Ji So-yun, a revered figure in Korean women's football, has set a definitive goal for her final chapter in international soccer: accumulating 200 appearances before retiring. The 35-year-old midfielder from Suwon FC Women has been an integral part of the national team for two decades, earning a bronze medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.
She first represented her country in 2006 at the tender age of 15. Since her Asian Games debut in Doha, Qatar, Ji has been a consistent presence, participating in six games across several tournaments including Guangzhou, China, Incheon, Indonesia, Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia, Hangzhou, China, and her latest appearance at this year's tournament.
In a recent interview with Hankook Ilbo, Ji candidly shared her retirement plans, stating, "I think I could reach 200 appearances sometime next year or the year after." Ji's record speaks volumes about her dedication and prowess. She holds the Korean record for most appearances with 182 caps and 76 goals in international matches. On the men's side, Son Heung-min leads with 151 caps and 59 goals.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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