1. Early Life and Challenges
Kwak Tae-hwi's early life was marked by a late start in football and significant physical challenges that he resiliently overcame to achieve a professional career.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Kwak Tae-hwi initially attended Soonshim High School, an academic-focused school, as his first choice for a football powerhouse high school was not met. He later transferred to Daegu Technical High School, where he began his football career relatively late in life, despite initial discouragement from those around him. By the time he was in his first year of high school, his height already exceeded 5.9 ft (1.8 m), and through natural physical ability and relentless effort, he began playing in matches from his second year. After graduating high school in four years due to an injury-related setback, he received offers from three professional teams and prestigious universities like Korea University. Following the advice of his mentor, former Daegu Technical High School coach Kwak Byung-yoo, he chose to attend Chung-Ang University, where his skills improved dramatically, leading to his professional debut with FC Seoul upon graduation.
1.2. Overcoming Physical Challenges
Kwak Tae-hwi faced significant physical adversity during his early career. During a practice match in high school, a ball struck his left eye, causing a severe injury that led to near-blindness; he could only distinguish shapes, though some reports indicate his vision remained at 0.2. This injury was a major setback, and it took him approximately a year of rehabilitation to return to the field. His resilience and determination to overcome this challenge ultimately allowed him to continue his football dream. As a result of this injury, he also received an exemption from military service. Furthermore, Kwak Tae-hwi was born with flat feet, a condition generally considered disadvantageous for a footballer, adding another layer of physical challenge he had to overcome throughout his career.
2. Club Career
Kwak Tae-hwi's professional club career spanned multiple teams across South Korea, Japan, and the Middle East, marked by significant contributions and titles.
2.1. FC Seoul (initial stint)
Kwak Tae-hwi made his professional debut with FC Seoul in 2005. During his initial stint with the club from 2005 to 2007, he made 28 appearances and scored 1 goal. He also contributed to FC Seoul winning the Korean League Cup in 2006.
2.2. Jeonnam Dragons
In the summer transfer window on 25 July 2007, Kwak Tae-hwi was traded to Jeonnam Dragons in exchange for Kim Jin-kyu. In his debut season with Jeonnam, he played a crucial role in the team's FA Cup victory, scoring the winning goal in the first leg of the final on 25 November. He served as team captain in 2008 and helped the team reach the final of the 2008 Korean League Cup, where they finished as runners-up. Over his tenure with Jeonnam Dragons until 2009, he made 33 appearances and scored 1 goal.
2.3. Japan and Ulsan Hyundai
In 2010, Kwak Tae-hwi moved to Japan to join Kyoto Sanga FC in the J.League. He played 24 matches and scored 2 goals during his time there. In February 2011, he returned to the K League, signing with Ulsan Hyundai.
At Ulsan Hyundai, Kwak Tae-hwi quickly established himself as a dominant force. In the 2011 season, he led the team to concede the fewest goals in the K League and contributed two goals in the playoffs, helping Ulsan secure a league runner-up finish. Despite being a center-back, he also remarkably became the team's top scorer, earning him the nickname "scoring defender." His exceptional performance earned him a spot in the K League 1 Best XI for both 2011 and 2012. In 2012, Kwak Tae-hwi played a pivotal role in Ulsan Hyundai's undefeated triumph in the AFC Champions League, even scoring the opening header goal in the final. His strong performance with Ulsan Hyundai culminated in 66 appearances and 12 goals across all competitions.
2.4. Middle East Leagues (Al-Shabab, Al-Hilal)
In January 2013, Kwak Tae-hwi embarked on a new challenge, moving to Saudi Arabia to join Al-Shabab. He made 16 appearances and scored 2 goals during his tenure there, helping the team reach the final of the 2013 King Cup of Champions, where they finished as runners-up.
On 27 December 2013, he transferred to Al-Hilal, another prominent Saudi club. He scored on his debut on 29 December. His time in Saudi Arabia was marked by immense popularity, reportedly surpassing that of an entertainer. With Al-Hilal, Kwak Tae-hwi won the 2015 King Cup, the 2015 Saudi Super Cup, and the 2015-16 Saudi Crown Prince Cup. He also played a key role in Al-Hilal's journey to the final of the 2014 AFC Champions League, where they finished as runners-up. His strong performances in the Middle East contributed to his inclusion in the South Korea squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Overall, he played 42 matches and scored 2 goals for Al-Hilal.
2.5. FC Seoul Return
On 7 July 2016, Kwak Tae-hwi returned to his former club, FC Seoul, signing a contract until 2018. He officially rejoined the team on 13 July 2016. In his second spell with FC Seoul, he continued to demonstrate his defensive prowess and leadership, contributing to the club's K League 1 championship victory in 2016. He also reached the final of the 2016 Korean FA Cup with the team, finishing as runner-up. Across his second stint, he made 49 appearances and scored 3 goals.
2.6. Gyeongnam FC and Retirement
In 2019, Kwak Tae-hwi transferred to Gyeongnam FC. He played 16 matches for the club before announcing his retirement from professional football at the end of the 2020 season. Following his retirement, he transitioned into a coaching role, joining Chengdu Rongcheng as a coach under manager Seo Jung-won, beginning the second chapter of his football career.
3. International Career
Kwak Tae-hwi had a distinguished career with the South Korea national team, representing his country at various levels and in major tournaments.
He was selected for the South Korea U-23 national football team in 2004 but did not get many opportunities to play. While he remained in the squad for the Olympic final qualifiers, he ultimately did not participate in the Olympic finals.
Kwak Tae-hwi made his A-match debut on 30 January 2008, in a friendly match against Chile, which was the first A-match held after Huh Jung-moo was appointed as head coach. In his second A-match, a 2010 FIFA World Cup third round qualifier against Turkmenistan, he scored his first international goal with a header. On 17 February 2008, he scored against China in the 2008 East Asian Football Championship, contributing to a 3-2 victory. He scored his third international goal against the UAE on 15 October 2008, in a 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifier.
In 2010, Kwak Tae-hwi was selected for the 26-man preliminary squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. However, during a friendly match against Belarus during a training camp, he sustained a leg injury. This unfortunate injury led to his exclusion from the final squad, forcing him to miss his debut World Cup appearance and return home. Earlier, on 3 March 2010, he scored a header against Ivory Coast in London, England, contributing to a 2-0 victory.
At the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, Kwak Tae-hwi was part of the squad. However, he had a challenging tournament; in the group stage matches against Bahrain and India, he conceded penalties leading to goals. Against Bahrain, he was also shown a red card in the 85th minute, resulting in an automatic suspension. His playing opportunities were limited thereafter until he came on as a substitute in the third-place play-off.
After Choi Kang-hee took over as head coach of the national team, Kwak Tae-hwi was appointed captain for the first time in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Asia Third Round match against Kuwait. On 8 June 2012, in a 2014 FIFA World Cup Asia Final Round match against Qatar in Doha, he scored a crucial header that secured a 2-1 lead, with the team ultimately winning 4-1.
He was included in the final squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup but did not make any appearances in the tournament. On 22 December 2014, he was named in the final squad for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup. In a surprising move by coach Uli Stielike, Kwak Tae-hwi played as a lone striker in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup final. This tactical decision proved successful, as he assisted Son Heung-min's equalizing goal. South Korea ultimately finished as runners-up in the tournament.
4. Coaching Career
Following his retirement as a professional football player at the end of the 2020 season, Kwak Tae-hwi immediately embarked on a new career path as a football coach. He joined Chinese club Chengdu Rongcheng as a coach, working under manager Seo Jung-won. This transition marked the beginning of his second chapter in football, utilizing his extensive playing experience to guide and develop new talent.
5. Honours
Kwak Tae-hwi achieved numerous team and individual accolades throughout his distinguished playing career.
5.1. Club Honours
- FC Seoul
- K League 1: 2016
- Korean League Cup: 2006
- Korean FA Cup runner-up: 2016
- Jeonnam Dragons
- Korean FA Cup: 2007
- Korean League Cup runner-up: 2008
- Ulsan Hyundai
- AFC Champions League: 2012
- Korean League Cup: 2011
- K League 1 runner-up: 2011
- Al-Shabab
- King Cup runner-up: 2013
- Al-Hilal
- King Cup: 2015
- Saudi Crown Prince Cup: 2015-16
- Saudi Super Cup: 2015
- AFC Champions League runner-up: 2014
- Saudi Professional League runner-up: 2015-16
5.2. International Honours
- South Korea
- AFC Asian Cup runner-up: 2015
- AFC Asian Cup third place: 2011
- EAFF Championship: 2008
- EAFF Championship runner-up: 2010
5.3. Individual Honours
- K League 1 Best XI: 2011, 2012
- K League All-Star: 2012, 2017
- AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2014
- AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2015
- AFC Champions League All-Star Squad: 2016
- Man of the Match in 2015 AFC Asian Cup Quarter-Final vs. Uzbekistan
6. Personal Life
Kwak Tae-hwi married Kang Su-yeon, who is two years his senior, on 17 December 2006, in Gumi, Gyeongsangbuk-do.
7. Career Statistics
7.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| FC Seoul | 2005 | K League | 11 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2006 | K League | 12 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 1 | - | - | 24 | 1 | |||
| 2007 | K League | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | |||
| Total | 28 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 26 | 1 | - | - | 58 | 2 | ||||
| Jeonnam Dragons | 2007 | K League | 13 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 18 | 2 | |
| 2008 | K League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 13 | 2 | ||
| 2009 | K League | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 10 | 0 | |||
| Total | 33 | 1 | 5 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | 41 | 4 | |||
| Kyoto Sanga | 2010 | J1 League | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 2 | ||
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2011 | K League | 34 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 0 | - | - | 45 | 9 | ||
| 2012 | K League | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | - | 12 | 2 | 21 | 0 | 49 | 5 | ||
| Total | 66 | 12 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 94 | 14 | ||
| Al-Shabab | 2012-13 | Saudi Professional League | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 0 | - | 20 | 1 | |
| 2013-14 | Saudi Professional League | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 1 | |||
| Total | 16 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 0 | - | 31 | 2 | |||
| Al-Hilal | 2013-14 | Saudi Professional League | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 0 | - | 12 | 1 | |
| 2014-15 | Saudi Professional League | 21 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12 | 0 | - | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2015-16 | Saudi Professional League | 19 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 32 | 0 | |
| Total | 42 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 28 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 84 | 3 | ||
| FC Seoul | 2016 | K League 1 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 4 | 0 | - | 17 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | K League 1 | 24 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 2 | 0 | - | 27 | 2 | |||
| 2018 | K League 1 | 14 | 1 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 16 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 49 | 3 | 5 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | - | 60 | 3 | ||||
| Gyeongnam FC | 2019 | K League 1 | 16 | 0 | 1 | 1 | - | 1 | 1 | - | 18 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 274 | 23 | 35 | 3 | 45 | 3 | 56 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 413 | 32 | ||
1 Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
2 Appearance in Saudi Super Cup
7.2. International Statistics
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 2008 | 7 | 3 | |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 | ||
| 2010 | 8 | 1 | ||
| 2011 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2012 | 7 | 1 | ||
| 2013 | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | 13 | 0 | ||
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | 2 | 0 | ||
| Total | 58 | 5 | ||
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 February 2008 | Seoul, South Korea | Turkmenistan | 1-0 | 4-0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 17 February 2008 | Chongqing, China | China | 3-2 | 3-2 | 2008 EAFF Championship |
| 3 | 15 October 2008 | Seoul, South Korea | UAE | 4-1 | 4-1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 3 March 2010 | London, England | Ivory Coast | 2-0 | 2-0 | Friendly |
| 5 | 8 June 2012 | Doha, Qatar | Qatar | 2-1 | 4-1 | 2014 FIFA World Cup qualification |