1. Overview
Jeong Woo-yeong (정우영Jeong UyeongKorean; born September 20, 1999) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a forward or attacking midfielder. He stands 5.9 ft (1.79 m) tall and weighs 152 lb (69 kg). He is currently on loan at Union Berlin from VfB Stuttgart and is a member of the South Korea national team. A significant highlight of his career includes winning a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games, which secured him a military service exemption, a notable achievement for South Korean athletes.
2. Early Life
Jeong Woo-yeong was born on September 20, 1999, in Okryeon-dong, Yeonsu District, Incheon, South Korea. He began his football journey relatively late, in late fifth grade, at the Lee Hoe-taek Football Academy. Despite the late start, he quickly demonstrated exceptional talent. By the winter training of his sixth grade, he joined the Incheon United FC's youth system, starting with the U-12 team. He then progressed through the club's U-15 team, which was affiliated with Gwangseong Middle School, and subsequently the U-18 team, connected to Incheon Daegun High School. During his middle school years, Jeong primarily played as a central midfielder. However, in high school, his position was changed to a winger to leverage his natural speed and ability to make penetrating runs into the opponent's defense.
3. Club Career
Jeong Woo-yeong's club career has seen him play for several prominent German clubs, including FC Bayern Munich, SC Freiburg, VfB Stuttgart, and currently, 1. FC Union Berlin.
3.1. FC Bayern Munich
On June 30, 2017, Jeong Woo-yeong reached an agreement to join Bayern Munich from South Korean club Incheon United FC. He officially signed and joined the club on January 1, 2018, with a contract extending until June 30, 2022. The transfer fee paid by Bayern Munich to Incheon United was reported to be 700.00 K EUR, and Jeong's annual salary was estimated at 200.00 K EUR.
Jeong made his first-team debut for Bayern Munich and his UEFA Champions League debut on November 27, 2018. This occurred during the group stage match against Benfica at Allianz Arena, where he came on as a substitute for Thomas Müller in the 81st minute. This appearance made him the first South Korean player to play an official match for Bayern Munich and the youngest South Korean to debut in the UEFA Champions League. His Bundesliga debut followed on March 3, 2019, at Borussia-Park, in a match against Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he again replaced Thomas Müller, this time in the 86th minute. On May 3, 2019, playing as a right winger for Bayern Munich's U-23 team, he started in the final of the Premier League International Cup, which they won. This marked his first club international trophy. He was substituted in the 68th minute by Jannik Rochelt during that match.
3.2. SC Freiburg
On June 19, 2019, SC Freiburg announced the signing of Jeong Woo-yeong on a four-year deal. The agreement included an option for Bayern Munich to buy him back in the future. He made his debut for Freiburg on August 10, 2019, in a 2019-20 DFB-Pokal match against 1. FC Magdeburg. Due to limited playing opportunities after his debut, he returned to Bayern Munich II on a half-season loan on January 29, 2020. During this loan spell, he significantly contributed to Bayern Munich II's 3. Liga title, scoring one goal and providing eight assists in 15 appearances.
In the 2020-21 season, his second season with Freiburg, Jeong began to receive more opportunities as a substitute. On December 12, 2020, he scored his first Bundesliga goal against Arminia Bielefeld after replacing Vincenzo Grifo in the 86th minute. He became a regular starter in the 2021-22 season, helping Freiburg achieve qualification for the UEFA Europa League. However, in the subsequent season, the arrival of Japanese winger Ritsu Dōan led to a reduction in his playing time, pushing him back to the bench and attracting the interest of VfB Stuttgart.
3.3. VfB Stuttgart
Jeong Woo-yeong transferred to fellow Bundesliga club VfB Stuttgart on July 11, 2023, signing a three-year contract. The initial transfer fee paid to Freiburg was 3.00 M EUR. A notable clause in the contract included an additional 1.00 M EUR bonus payment to Freiburg if Jeong secured a gold medal in the 2022 Asian Games football tournament. This clause was activated when he achieved the gold medal, benefiting Freiburg due to his military service exemption status.
He started in Stuttgart's first three matches of the season. However, after a one-month absence to participate in the 2022 Asian Games, he primarily appeared as a substitute. On May 4, 2024, Jeong scored his first goal for Stuttgart in a 3-1 victory over his former club, Bayern Munich. This victory marked Stuttgart's first win against Bayern since 2007.
3.4. 1. FC Union Berlin
On August 27, 2024, Jeong Woo-yeong moved on loan to Union Berlin. He wears the jersey number 11 for the club. As of February 22, 2025, he has made 19 appearances and scored 2 goals for Union Berlin.
4. International Career
Jeong Woo-yeong has represented South Korea at various youth national team levels before making his debut for the senior national team, achieving significant success in major tournaments.
4.1. Youth National Teams
Jeong has been a prominent figure in South Korea's youth national teams. In 2013, he earned a gold medal with the U-14 national team at the 2013 Asian Youth Games. The following year, with the U-17 national team, he secured a silver medal at the 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.
In September 2017, he was called up to the U-20 national team for a training camp in Spain, preparing for the 2018 AFC U-19 Championship qualifiers. He was subsequently included in the final squad for the qualifiers. However, he was unable to participate in the main 2018 AFC U-19 Championship tournament due to his club, Bayern Munich, refusing his call-up. In January 2020, Jeong was selected for the final squad of the U-23 national team for the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship. In this tournament, the team made history by winning its first-ever AFC U-23 Asian Cup title. He later achieved another gold medal with the U-23 team at the 2022 Asian Games.
4.2. Senior National Team
Jeong Woo-yeong made his senior national team debut for South Korea on March 25, 2021. This debut occurred in a friendly match against Japan at Yokohama Nissan Stadium, a match which South Korea lost by a score of 0-3.
His first A-match goal came on November 16, 2021, against Iraq at Thani bin Jassim Stadium in Doha, Qatar. This goal contributed to South Korea's 3-0 victory in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match. Jeong was also included in the South Korea squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. As of March 21, 2024, he has made 22 appearances for the senior national team, scoring 4 goals.
4.3. Major Tournament Achievements
Jeong Woo-yeong played a crucial role in the South Korean U-23 team's triumph at the 2022 Asian Games. Throughout the tournament, he showcased exceptional scoring prowess, netting eight goals in seven matches, which made him the competition's top goalscorer. His performance was instrumental in leading South Korea to secure its third consecutive Asian Games gold medal, and its sixth overall. This victory was particularly significant as it resulted in Jeong receiving a military service exemption, a highly coveted benefit for South Korean male athletes.
Interestingly, on the same day as Jeong's gold medal win, another prominent South Korean athlete with the exact same name, a baseball player also named Jeong Woo-yeong, also secured a gold medal and military exemption. This created a unique coincidence, adding to a historical pattern, as a third footballer, also named Jeong Woo-yeong (born in 1989), had received military exemption after winning a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This series of events involving three distinct individuals sharing the same name and achieving military exemption through sports highlighted the societal importance of athletic achievements in South Korea.
5. Career Statistics
This section provides a detailed overview of Jeong Woo-yeong's professional career statistics, encompassing his club and international appearances and goals.
5.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | DFB-Pokal | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Bayern Munich II | 2018-19 | Regionalliga Bayern | 29 | 13 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 31 | 13 | ||
| Bayern Munich | 2018-19 | Bundesliga | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | |
| SC Freiburg | 2019-20 | Bundesliga | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2020-21 | Bundesliga | 26 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 4 | |||
| 2021-22 | Bundesliga | 32 | 5 | 5 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 5 | |||
| 2022-23 | Bundesliga | 26 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 1 | - | 34 | 2 | ||
| Total | 84 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 5 | 1 | - | 100 | 11 | |||
| SC Freiburg II | 2019-20 | Regionalliga Südwest | 6 | 2 | - | - | - | 6 | 2 | |||
| Bayern Munich II (loan) | 2019-20 | 3. Liga | 15 | 1 | - | - | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| VfB Stuttgart | 2023-24 | Bundesliga | 26 | 2 | 3 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 2 | ||
| Union Berlin (loan) | 2024-25 | Bundesliga | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 180 | 30 | 14 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 202 | 31 | ||
5.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 2021 | 2 | 1 |
| 2022 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2023 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2024 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 22 | 4 | |
International Goals
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, with the score column indicating the score after each Jeong goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 16 November 2021 | Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar | Iraq | 3-0 | 3-0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 10 June 2022 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea | Paraguay | 2-2 | 2-2 | Friendly |
| 3 | 17 October 2023 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea | Vietnam | 6-0 | 6-0 | Friendly |
| 4 | 25 January 2024 | Al Janoub Stadium, Al Wakrah, Qatar | Malaysia | 1-0 | 3-3 | 2023 AFC Asian Cup |
6. Honours
Jeong Woo-yeong has achieved several significant titles and medals throughout his club and international career.
6.1. Club Honours
- FC Bayern Munich
- Bundesliga: 2018-19
- DFB-Pokal: 2018-19
- FC Bayern Munich II
- 3. Liga: 2019-20
- Regionalliga Bayern: 2018-19
- SC Freiburg
- DFB-Pokal runner-up: 2021-22
6.2. National Team Honours
- South Korea U-14
- Asian Youth Games Gold Medal: 2013
- South Korea U-17
- Summer Youth Olympics Silver Medal: 2014
- South Korea U-23
- AFC U-23 Championship: 2020
- Asian Games Gold Medal: 2022
6.3. Individual Honours
- Asian Games Top Goalscorer: 2022
7. Assessment and Impact
Jeong Woo-yeong is known for his versatility and offensive abilities, primarily operating as a forward or attacking midfielder. A right-footed player, while he started his youth career as a central midfielder, his transition to a winger in high school capitalized on his natural speed and ability to make incisive runs, which remains a key aspect of his playing style. He has demonstrated consistent growth throughout his career in Germany, from his early breakthrough at FC Bayern Munich to becoming a starter at SC Freiburg, and now contributing to VfB Stuttgart and 1. FC Union Berlin.
A particularly significant aspect of Jeong Woo-yeong's career, and a common topic for South Korean male athletes, is his military service exemption. By securing a gold medal at the 2022 Asian Games, he fulfilled the criteria for exemption, a highly coveted benefit that allows him to pursue his professional football career without interruption. This achievement gained additional public attention due to a unique coincidence: on the same day of his gold medal win, another prominent South Korean athlete with the exact same name, a baseball player also named Jeong Woo-yeong, also secured a gold medal and military exemption. This remarkable occurrence adds to the story of a third footballer, also named Jeong Woo-yeong (born in 1989), who had received military exemption after winning a bronze medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics. This series of events involving three distinct individuals sharing the same name and achieving military exemption through sports highlighted the societal importance of athletic achievements in South Korea.