Kim Kum-il

2.1. Birth and Youth

Kim Kum-il was born on October 10, 1987, in Pyongyang, North Korea. His early development in football led him to join one of the country's most successful sports clubs.

2.2. Club Career

In 2005, Kim Kum-il joined 4.25 Sports Club, a team associated with the Korean People's Army. He remained with this club for the entirety of his 12-year professional career, playing consistently until his retirement in 2017. During his tenure, he was a key player for the club, contributing to their activities over more than a decade.

3.1. Youth National Teams

Kim Kum-il made a significant impact during his time with the North Korean youth national teams. In 2006, he captained the North Korean Under-20 team and played a pivotal role in their triumph at the 2006 AFC Youth Championship. He scored four goals throughout the tournament, leading his team to secure their second championship title, and was recognized for his outstanding performance by being voted the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. The following year, as captain, he also participated in the 2007 FIFA World Youth Championship, where he scored one goal in a 2-2 draw against the Czech Republic. Later in his career, he was also part of the North Korean U-23 team that competed in the 2010 Asian Games, contributing to their progress to the quarterfinals of the competition.

3.2. Senior National Team

Kim Kum-il made his debut for the senior national team during the 2005 East Asian Football Championship qualifying rounds, helping the team secure a spot in the final tournament. He subsequently participated in the main event. He later returned to the national squad for the 2008 East Asian Football Championship. On December 24, 2007, in the second match of the King's Cup held in Bangkok, Thailand, Kim scored his debut goal for the senior national team against Uzbekistan in a match that ended in a 2-2 draw.

His international career reached a peak with his inclusion in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, marking North Korea's first appearance in the tournament in 44 years. During the group stage, he was brought on as a substitute in the G-group matches against Brazil and Portugal. Following the World Cup, Kim rejoined the senior national team and competed in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. However, the team was unfortunately eliminated during the group stage of that tournament.

3.3. International Statistics

Kim Kum-il accumulated a total of 16 appearances for the senior national team between 2005 and 2010. While some records indicate zero goals, he is confirmed to have scored at least one international goal during the 2007 King's Cup against Uzbekistan.

His international A-match appearances by year are as follows:

The single goal against Uzbekistan in 2007 is documented in other sources, creating a discrepancy with the yearly appearance table above which indicates zero goals in 2007 and total zero goals for his career. This specific goal was scored in a King's Cup match on December 24, 2007.