1. Overview
Jung Jung-suk (정정숙Jeong JeongsukKorean; August 25, 1982 - June 26, 2011) was a highly accomplished South Korean women's football player. Primarily playing as a midfielder, she was known for her prolific goal-scoring abilities and played for Daekyo Kangaroos in the WK-League. Jung represented the South Korea women's national football team in numerous international competitions, including the Asian Games and the AFC Women's Asian Cup, where she achieved significant individual and team honors. Her career was marked by notable achievements before her untimely death from stomach cancer at the age of 28.
2. Life and Career
Jung Jung-suk's football journey began with an early athletic background, leading her to become a prominent figure in South Korean women's football.
2.1. Early Life and Education
Jung Jung-suk was born on August 25, 1982, in Goseong County, Gyeongsangnam-do, South Korea. In her early years, she was involved in track and field as an elementary school athlete. She made a significant transition to football during her first year at Hyundai Girls' High School. Following her high school education, she continued her athletic development at Ulsan College, further honing her skills as a football player.
2.2. Club Career
Jung's professional club career began in 2002 when she joined Gyeongnam Daekyo, which later became known as Daekyo Kangaroos, as a founding member of the team. She played a pivotal role for the club throughout her career in various domestic competitions, including the WK-League.
Her club performance statistics are as follows:
| Club | Season | Korean Women's Football Federation Championship (Spring/Autumn) | National Women's Football Championship | National Sports Festival | Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gyeongnam Daekyo | 2002 | -/- | -/- | - | - | - | - | ||
| 2003 | -/- | -/- | - | - | - | - | |||
| 2004 | 2/4 | 2/2 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 11 | 8 | |
| 2005 | 2/2 | 0/1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | - | - | |
| 2006 | 3/4 | 0/2 | - | - | - | - | - | - | |
| 2007 | 3/3 | 0/3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 4 | |
| 2008 | 3/4 | 2/1 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 13 | 4 | |
| Total | - | - | - | - | - | - | 36 | 16 | |
| Club | Season | WK-League | National Women's Football Championship | National Sports Festival | Total | ||||
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gyeongnam Daekyo | 2009 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ||
2.3. National Team Career
Jung Jung-suk made her debut for the South Korea women's national football team in 2001. She quickly became a key player, representing her country in several major international tournaments. She contributed to South Korea's fourth-place finish at the 2002 Asian Games.
In 2005, she was part of the national team that secured a victory at the East Asian Women's Football Championship. She also participated in the 2006 Asian Games, where South Korea again finished fourth.
Jung's most remarkable performance on the international stage came during the 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup. In a match against Thailand, she scored an impressive six goals, contributing significantly to an 11-0 victory. Her overall tally of seven goals in the tournament earned her the title of joint top scorer. Following this outstanding performance, Jung Jung-suk was nominated for the prestigious 'AFC Women's Player of the Year' award in 2006, recognizing her exceptional contributions to the sport. She also represented the national team at the 2008 East Asian Women's Football Championship.
3. International Goals
Jung Jung-suk scored a total of nine goals in international matches for the South Korea women's national football team. The following table details her international goals:
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | January 18, 2002 | Bendigo, Australia | Australia | 1-0 | 1-4 | Friendly match |
| 2 | October 4, 2002 | Yangsan Stadium, Yangsan, South Korea | Chinese Taipei | 2-0 | 2-1 | 2002 Asian Games |
| 3 | July 20, 2006 | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia | Thailand | 2-0 | 11-0 | 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup |
| 4 | 5-0 | |||||
| 5 | 7-0 | |||||
| 6 | 8-0 | |||||
| 7 | 9-0 | |||||
| 8 | 10-0 | |||||
| 9 | July 22, 2006 | Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia | Myanmar | 3-0 | 3-1 |
4. Honours and Achievements
Jung Jung-suk achieved numerous team and individual honors throughout her distinguished football career.
4.1. Club Honours
With Gyeongnam Daekyo / Daekyo Kangaroos, Jung Jung-suk secured multiple titles and runner-up finishes in domestic competitions:
- WK-League
- Winner: 2009
- Spring Korean Women's Football Federation Championship
- Winner: 2006, 2008
- Runner-up: 2003, 2004
- Autumn Korean Women's Football Federation Championship
- Winner: 2007, 2008
- Runner-up: 2004, 2006
- National Women's Football Championship
- Winner: 2005, 2006, 2007
- Runner-up: 2004
- National Sports Festival
- Winner: 2004, 2006
- Runner-up: 2005, 2007, 2009
4.2. National Team Honours
Jung Jung-suk's contributions to the South Korean national team led to the following achievements:
- 2002 Asian Games
- Fourth place
- 2005 East Asian Women's Football Championship
- Winner
4.3. Individual Honours
Jung Jung-suk received several individual accolades recognizing her outstanding talent and performance:
- 2004 Spring Korean Women's Football Federation Championship Top Scorer
- 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup Top Scorer
- 2006 Spring Korean Women's Football Federation Championship Most Valuable Player (MVP)
- 2006 National Women's Football Championship MVP
- 2007 Autumn Korean Women's Football Federation Championship MVP
- 2008 Autumn Korean Women's Football Federation Championship MVP
5. Death
In 2009, Jung Jung-suk was diagnosed with stomach cancer. She underwent major surgery, which involved the resection of 90% of her stomach, in an attempt to combat the disease. Despite her efforts in rehabilitation, she passed away on June 26, 2011, at the age of 28, due to complications arising from her illness. Her death marked a profound loss for the South Korean football community.