1. Early life and youth career
1.1. Youth football and university
Bae Chun-Suk was born on April 27, 1990, in Daegu Metropolitan City, South Korea. He began his football journey within the youth system of Pohang Steelers, a prominent South Korean club.
Bae Chun-Suk progressed through the Pohang Steelers youth academy, attending Pocheol Elementary School, Pohang Jecheol Middle School, and Pohang Jecheol Technical High School. During his time at Pohang Jecheol Technical High School, he emerged as a key striker for the U-17 national team. Following his youth career, he enrolled at Soongsil University. In the 2009 K League Draft, he was prioritized for selection by Pohang Steelers, indicating his potential.
Throughout his youth and university years, Bae Chun-Suk was a consistent presence in various age-group national teams. He represented South Korea at the U-15 level in 2005, U-16 in 2006, and U-17 from 2006 to 2007. He was also part of the U-20 squad in 2009. In 2010 and 2011, he was selected for the All-Korea University Football team, participating in events such as the Korea-Japan University Regular Match. His international youth career continued with selection for the U-22 team in 2011, where he scored two goals in a friendly match against Oman. That same year, he represented South Korea at the 2011 Summer Universiade.
2. Club career
Bae Chun-Suk's professional club career began in Japan before he returned to South Korea to play for several K League teams.
2.1. Vissel Kobe
In July 2011, while still attending Soongsil University, Bae Chun-Suk made the decision to leave university early to sign a professional contract with Vissel Kobe, a club in Japan's J1 League. He made his professional debut on August 20, 2011, in a J1 League match against Albirex Niigata at Home's Stadium Kobe. During the 2011 season, he appeared in three league matches and one cup match. However, his initial period with the club was marred by injury, as he suffered a fatigue fracture in both shins, requiring surgery and a nine-month rehabilitation period, which sidelined him for the remainder of the season.
The lingering effects of his injury impacted his 2012 season. His first appearance that year came in June in the J.League Cup, where he was unfortunately sent off with a red card just six minutes after coming on as a substitute. This would be his only official match appearance in 2012. Despite playing in some training matches, recurring injuries meant he was largely out of the team's plans, and he was eventually released by Vissel Kobe at the end of the 2012 season.
2.2. Pohang Steelers
In January 2013, Bae Chun-Suk returned to South Korea, joining Pohang Steelers, the club whose youth system he had come through. He officially debuted for Pohang Steelers in the 2013 K League Classic on March 2, 2013, coming on as a substitute in the season's opening match against FC Seoul. His first assist in the K League came on March 30, 2013, in a game against Jeonnam Dragons. He scored his debut league goal on April 13, 2013, against Gyeongnam FC, finding the net just six minutes after being substituted into the match in the 18th minute of the second half.
Bae Chun-Suk also made significant contributions in the 2013 AFC Champions League. He started in the second group stage match away against FC Bunyodkor and subsequently started in the third group stage match away against Sanfrecce Hiroshima, scoring the winning goal that earned him particular attention. The 2014 season started positively for him when he scored an equalizing goal in the 2014 AFC Champions League home match against Cerezo Osaka. However, his season was cut short before the halfway point due to another recurrence of fatigue fractures in both shins, necessitating further surgery and effectively ending his participation for the season.
2.3. Busan IPark
On December 18, 2014, Bae Chun-Suk's transfer to Busan IPark was officially announced. He played for Busan IPark during the 2015 season, contributing to their K League Classic campaign.
2.4. Jeonnam Dragons
In 2016, Bae Chun-Suk moved to Jeonnam Dragons, where he continued his career in the K League. He played for the club for two seasons.
2.5. Icheon Citizen FC
Ahead of the 2018 season, Bae Chun-Suk joined Icheon Citizen FC, marking a later stage in his professional career.
3. International career
Bae Chun-Suk had a notable international career representing South Korea at various youth levels. He was part of the U-15 national team in 2005 and continued his progression to the U-16 team in 2006. From 2006 to 2007, he was a key striker for the U-17 national team and was included in the squad for the 2007 FIFA U-17 World Cup.
In 2009, he played for the U-20 national team. His talent was recognized at the university level as well, leading to his selection for the All-Korea University Football team from 2010 to 2011, which included participation in the Korea-Japan University Regular Match. In June 2011, he was called up to the U-22 national team, scoring two goals in a friendly against Oman. That same year, he earned a spot on the South Korean Universiade team and participated in the 2011 Summer Universiade.
4. Honours
Bae Chun-Suk achieved significant success during his time with Pohang Steelers.
- Pohang Steelers
- K League Classic: 2013
- FA Cup: 2013
5. Personal life and anecdotes
Bae Chun-Suk gained a unique form of recognition in Japan due to his striking resemblance to the Japanese comedian Koyabu Kazutoyo. Because of this, he was often affectionately called "Koyabu" or "Zacho" (座長ZachoJapanese, meaning "troupe leader" or "chairman," a reference to Koyabu's role in the Yoshimoto New Comedy) by his teammates and fans in Japan. Bae Chun-Suk reportedly accepted the comparison, stating that "it cannot be helped if I look similar."
In South Korea, he was known by the nickname "Lips" (입술IpsulKorean), a moniker attributed to his visibly thick lips.
6. Career statistics
Statistics accurate as of the end of the 2017 season.
| Club Performance | League | National Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Club | Season | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Japan | League | Emperor's Cup | J.League Cup | Asia | Total | |||||||
| Vissel Kobe | 2011 | J1 League | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| South Korea | League | Korean FA Cup | - | Asia | Total | |||||||
| Pohang Steelers | 2013 | KL Classic | 20 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | 5 | 1 | 25 | 5 | |
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 7 | 1 | ||||
| Busan IPark | 2015 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | |||
| Jeonnam Dragons | 2016-2017 | KL Classic | 31 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 3 |
| Career totals | 79 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 2 | 89 | 10 | ||