On Byung-hoon

1. Playing Career

On Byung-Hoon's playing career spanned both youth and professional levels, taking him through South Korea's K League and N League, as well as Japan's regional leagues.

On Byung-Hoon's early football development began in Japan. From 2001 to 2003, he was part of the Oita Trinita U-18 team, having been scouted by former South Korean national team coach Hwangbo Kwan, who was then managing the Oita U-18 squad. During his time at Oita, he was a year above future Japanese internationals Tsukasa Umesaki and Shusaku Nishikawa, and he developed a close friendship with Umesaki, often training together. In mid-2003, he returned to South Korea, continuing his education and football at Joongdong High School before attending Soongsil University from 2004 to 2005.

1.2. Professional Club Career

On Byung-Hoon's professional career saw him play for several clubs in South Korea and Japan, experiencing both limited opportunities and periods as a key player.

1.2.1. Pohang Steelers

On Byung-Hoon joined Pohang Steelers in the K League through the 2006 K-League draft. Despite being a highly-regarded prospect from the U-20 national team, he found limited opportunities in the first team during his two-year spell from 2006 to 2007. He made only two appearances in the K League Cup, one in 2006 and another in 2007. However, he showcased his potential in the reserve league, where he was recognized as the R League MVP.

1.2.2. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Ahead of the 2008 season, On Byung-Hoon transferred to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He made a strong impression during the pre-season, even scoring a hat-trick in one of the matches. Although he struggled to establish himself as a regular starter, he consistently delivered strong performances when given opportunities, whether as a starter or a substitute. Over his two seasons with Jeonbuk, he made 6 appearances in the K League, scoring 1 goal, and contributed to the team in various cup competitions.

1.2.3. Daegu FC

In 2010, On Byung-Hoon moved to Daegu FC in a cash trade involving defender Feng Xiaoting. He made his league debut for Daegu FC on March 6, 2010, against his former club, Pohang Steelers, and marked the occasion with a goal. The 2010 season proved to be a breakthrough for him, as he became a regular starter, appearing in 23 league matches.

However, his career faced a significant challenge in July 2011 when he became embroiled in the K-League match-fixing scandal. He was subsequently released by Daegu FC. It was later revealed during his appeal that he had been falsely accused due to the fabricated testimony of a senior teammate, Jang Nam-seok. On Byung-Hoon was acquitted of all charges, clearing his name. Following his acquittal, he re-signed with Daegu FC in 2013, making a return to the club. Despite his return, he was released again in July 2013 during the summer transfer window.

1.2.4. Gimhae City FC

After his second departure from Daegu FC in July 2013, On Byung-Hoon joined Gimhae City FC, which competed in the N League. He played for the club during the 2013, 2014, and 2015 seasons, contributing to their efforts in the league.

1.2.5. Kochi United SC

In 2016, On Byung-Hoon moved to Japan and joined Kochi United SC, a club competing in the Shikoku Soccer League, one of Japan's regional leagues. He became a key player for the team, making 31 league appearances and scoring 12 goals during his tenure from 2016 to 2018. His contributions helped Kochi United SC win the Shikoku Soccer League title twice, in 2017 and 2018. He left the club at the end of the 2018 season upon the expiration of his contract.

1.3. International Career

On Byung-Hoon was a member of the South Korean U-20 national team in 2005. He participated in the 2005 Suwon Cup International Youth Football Tournament and made a total of 7 appearances for the U-20 side.

2. Coaching Career

After concluding his playing career, On Byung-Hoon transitioned into football coaching, primarily focusing on youth development in Japan.

2.1. Oita Trinita Youth

In 2019, On Byung-Hoon returned to Oita Trinita, the club where he began his youth career, to take on a coaching role within their academy. He initially served as a coach for the Oita Trinita U-18 team in 2019. From 2020 to 2021, he worked as a coach for the U-15 Usa team, specifically overseeing the U-14 age group. He returned to the U-18 coaching staff in 2022 and was promoted to manager of the U-15 team in 2023, demonstrating his progression and commitment to youth player development.

Season	Club	League	League
South Korea			League		KFA Cup		K-League Cup		Total
2006	Pohang Steelers	K League	0	0	1	0	1	0	2	0
2007	Pohang Steelers	K League	0	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
2008	Jeonbuk Hyundai	K League	6	1	2	0	3	1	11	2
2009	Jeonbuk Hyundai	K League	2	0	1	0	1	0	4	0
2010	Daegu FC	K League	23	1	0	0	5	3	28	4
2011	Daegu FC	K League	8	0	1	0	5	0	14	0
2013	Daegu FC	K League	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	0
2013	Gimhae City FC	N League	4	0	0	0	0	0	4	0
2014	Gimhae City FC	N League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
2015	Gimhae City FC	N League	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Japan			League		Emperor's Cup		League Cup		Total
2016	Kochi United SC	Shikoku	8	3	1	0	0	0	9	3
2017	Kochi United SC	Shikoku	10	7	1	0	0	0	11	7
2018	Kochi United SC	Shikoku	13	2	1	0	0	0	14	2
Career total				76	14	8	0	16	4	100	18

4. Achievements

On Byung-Hoon achieved several titles and an individual award during his playing career:

Oita Trinita U-18
- Emperor's Cup Oita Prefectural Qualifiers: 2002
Pohang Steelers
- R-League MVP: (Year not specified, but during his tenure)
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
- K League 1: 2009
Kochi United SC
- Shikoku Soccer League: 2017, 2018