1. Overview
Heo Keon (허건Heo GeonKorean; born 3 January 1988) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a midfielder. He began his professional career in the National League in 2009 before making his K League Challenge debut in 2013 with Bucheon FC 1995. During his time with Bucheon, a unique fan-led fundraising campaign was initiated by supporters to advocate for his re-contract, collecting a significant sum. He currently plays for Paju Citizen FC in the K3 League.
2. Early life
Heo Keon was born on 3 January 1988. No further details regarding his formative years prior to his professional football career are widely known.
3. Club career
Heo Keon's professional football journey began in 2009 and has seen him play for several clubs, marking various milestones and contributions in different leagues throughout his career.
3.1. Early career
Heo Keon commenced his professional career in 2009 by joining Hongcheon Idu FC in the National League. During his tenure there, he scored his first goal for the club on 2 May 2009, in a match against Cheonan City FC. After his spell at Hongcheon Idu FC, he moved to Yongin City FC ahead of the 2010 season. Following a year with Yongin City FC, he transferred to Cheonan City FC before the 2011 season.
3.2. Bucheon FC 1995
In 2012, Heo Keon joined Bucheon FC 1995. With Bucheon's entry into the K League Challenge, the second tier of South Korean professional football, he was given priority designation through the draft and subsequently made his professional debut. In the opening match of the 2013 K League Challenge season against Suwon FC, he scored his debut professional league goal. During his first season in the K League Challenge, Heo Keon demonstrated a solid performance, appearing in 18 matches and scoring 5 goals. Despite his contributions, he was notified by the club of his release.
3.2.1. Fan fundraising campaign
Following the announcement of Heo Keon's release from Bucheon FC 1995, a remarkable fan-led fundraising initiative emerged among the club's supporters. Dissatisfied with the club's decision, the supporters spontaneously organized a campaign to raise funds for his re-contract. This community-driven effort successfully collected 25.80 M KRW, a significant sum which was then delivered to the club. This highly publicized campaign highlighted the strong bond between Heo Keon and the Bucheon FC 1995 fanbase and underscored the impact of supporter activism in football.
3.3. Later career
After his tenure with Bucheon FC 1995, Heo Keon continued his professional career. He currently plays for Paju Citizen FC in the K3 League, continuing to contribute his skills as a midfielder to the club.
4. Style of play
Heo Keon plays primarily as a midfielder. His role involves contributing to both offensive and defensive aspects of the game from the central area of the field.