Women's World Cup: South Korea Women's Team Profile

South Korea lost their three group games at the World Cup in France four years ago and will be hoping to put that behind them in Australia and New Zealand

The Taeguk Ladies did finish runners-up in last year's AFC Women's Asian Cup, so do have some decent form to work from in Oceania. 

They have landed in Group H with previous champions Germany, Morocco and Colombia.

South Korea's World Cup record:

South Korea have qualified for three World Cup finals before this year's tournament, losing out in the group stages in 2003 before they finished runners-up in their group behind Brazil in 2015.

The Taeguk Ladies were beaten by France in the round of 16 that year and then lost all three matches in the 2019 edition, being beaten 4-0 by France, 2-0 by Nigeria and 2-1 by Norway.

As a result, the Asian side have lost eight of their 10 matches at the World Cup. 

How South Korea qualified:

South Korea qualified for this year's World Cup by finishing runners-up in last year's AFC Women's Asian Cup.

The Taeguk Ladies came home second behind Japan in their group after beating Vietnam 3-0, Myanmar 2-0 and finishing with a 1-1 draw with Japan.

South Korea then pulled off a coup by beating Australia 1-0 in the quarter-finals and beating the Philippines 2-0 in the last four.

However, a painful loss in the final followed, with South Korea going 2-0 up before China levelled with 20 minutes to play.

A 93rd-minute winner confirmed China's comeback and deprived South Korea of their first major tournament success.

Despite the immense blow of that defeat, their encouraging progress in that tournament ensured their qualification for the global showpiece 

The Manager - Colin Bell

Colin Bell is South Korea's manager. Hailing from Leicester, the Englishman played at VfL Hamm and Mainz before a long coach career that began in 1989.

Bell has been in charge of a number of sides, including FFC Frankfurt and Republic of Ireland Ladies, while he also held the assistant's role with Huddersfield Town's men's team for a short spell.

The 61-year-old won the UEFA Women's Champions League in 2014/15 with FFC Frankfurt and took over as South Korea boss in October 2019.

Taking his team to the AFC Women's Asian Cup final last year has been his best achievement in his current position.

Confirmed South Korea squad

South Korea are yet to confirm their squad for the Women's World Cup. Here are the 31 players who have been selected for a friendly match against Haiti on 8th July.

Goalkeepers: Kim Jung-mi, Yoon Young-guel, Choi Ye-Seul, Ryu Ji-soo

Defenders: Kim Hye-ri, Lim Seon-joo, Jang Sel-gi, Shim Seo-yeon, Lee Young-ju, Hong Hye-ji, Choo Hyo-joo 

Midfielders: Cho So-hyun, Ji So-yun, Lee Geum-min, Jeon Eun-ha, Kim Yun-ji, Chun Ga-ram, Bae Ye-bin

Forwards: Jung Seol-bin, Choe Yu-ri, Son Hwa-yeon, Park Eun-sun, Moon Mi-ra, Kang Chae-rim, Jang Yu-bin, Mun Eun-ju, Lee Eun-young, Go Yoo-na, Kwon Da-eun, Casey Phair, Won Ju-en

South Korea's Key Players

Cho So-hyun is one of three South Korean players to feature in the Women's Super League, alongside Brighton's duo of Lee Geum-min and Park Ye-eun.

Cho is her country's top appearance maker, turning out 144 times for the Taeguk Ladies, netting 25 goals in the process.

She won multiple South Korean WK League titles with Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels before moving to West Ham in 2019.

After two seasons with the Hammers, Cho joined Tottenham, first on loan and then permanently in the summer of 2021.

The midfielder has netted once in 33 games for Spurs, who have the rare distinction of having the South Korea men's and women's captains on their books, with Son Heung-min playing for the men's side.

She scored a crucial goal in the 2-0 win over the Philippines in the 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup final, sending her side to the final in the process.

Chances have been given to the young pair of Kwon Da-eun and Casey Phair in the most recent South Korea squad and, if picked, they could be among the youngest players at the tournament.

The pair are both 15 years old, with Kwon the younger of the two, bringing some youth to what is an experienced group.

South Korea's Group fixtures:

Group H:
Colombia v South Korea, Sydney, 25th July 2023
South Korea v Morocco, Adelaide, 30th July 2023
South Korea v Germany, Brisbane, 3rd August 2023