1. Overview
Pak Song-chol (박성철 (朴成哲)Pak Sŏngch'ŏlKorean; born 24 September 1987) is a North Korean professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Visakha FC. He has represented the North Korean national team in various international competitions, including the qualifying rounds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
2. Career
Pak Song-chol's career spans both club and international levels, marked by significant contributions to Ri Myongsu Sports Club and the North Korean national team.
2.1. Club Career
Pak Song-chol began his professional career in 2007, joining Ri Myongsu Sports Club in North Korea. He remained with the club until 2017, contributing to several domestic achievements. During his tenure with Ri Myongsu, the club secured victories in the 2010 Mangyongdae Sports Games and the 2010 Paektusan Sports Games. In 2012, the club finished third in the DPR Korea Football League (1st Division) and won the Pochonbo Sports Games. Internationally, he helped Ri Myongsu reach the final of the 2014 AFC President's Cup, where they finished as runner-up. The club also secured a runner-up position in the 2015 Pochonbo Sports Games. In 2018, after 11 years in the domestic league, Pak Song-chol made his first move to an overseas league, signing with Visakha FC in Cambodia.
2.2. National Team Career
Pak Song-chol has been a prominent figure in North Korean national football, representing his country at various levels. At the youth level, he was part of the North Korea U-20 national team that competed in the finals of the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup. For the senior national team, Pak participated in the qualifying rounds for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. He made a significant impact in the AFC Challenge Cup tournaments. In the 2008 AFC Challenge Cup, he was the top scorer with six goals, helping North Korea secure a third-place finish. He continued his contributions in the 2010 AFC Challenge Cup, scoring two goals and playing a key role in the team's first-ever victory in an AFC-sanctioned competition. Pak also participated in the 2012 AFC Challenge Cup, where, despite not scoring, he contributed to North Korea's second consecutive triumph in the tournament. He captained the team in the 2015 AFC Asian Cup.
3. Statistics
This section provides a quantitative overview of Pak Song-chol's performance in his international career.
3.1. International Statistics
Pak Song-chol's international career statistics for the North Korea national football team are detailed below.
| North Korea national football team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2007 | 2 | 0 |
| 2008 | 6 | 6 |
| 2009 | 1 | 0 |
| 2010 | 6 | 2 |
| 2011 | 7 | 0 |
| 2012 | 9 | 2 |
| 2013 | 0 | 0 |
| 2014 | 5 | 1 |
| 2015 | 3 | 0 |
| Total | 39 | 11 |
Statistics are accurate as of 18 January 2015.
3.2. Senior National Team Goals
The following table lists the goals scored by Pak Song-chol for the senior North Korean national team.
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 July 2008 | Hyderabad, India | Sri Lanka | 2-0 | 3-0 | 2008 AFC Challenge Cup |
| 2 | 3-0 | |||||
| 3 | 2 August 2008 | Hyderabad, India | Nepal | 1-0 | 1-0 | |
| 4 | 13 August 2008 | New Delhi, India | Myanmar | 1-0 | 4-0 | |
| 5 | 2-0 | |||||
| 6 | 3-0 | |||||
| 7 | 19 February 2010 | Colombo, Sri Lanka | Kyrgyzstan | 1-0 | 4-0 | 2010 AFC Challenge Cup |
| 8 | 24 February 2010 | Myanmar | 3-0 | 5-0 | ||
| 9 | 1 December 2012 | Hong Kong | Chinese Taipei | 0-2 | 1-6 | 2013 EAFF East Asian Cup |
| 10 | 9 December 2012 | Hong Kong | 0-4 | 0-4 | ||
| 11 | 2 November 2014 | Manama | Bahrain | 2-2 | 2-2 | Friendly |
4. Awards
Pak Song-chol has received various team and individual accolades throughout his career.
4.1. Club Awards
Pak Song-chol's club achievements with Ri Myongsu Sports Club include:
- Mangyongdae Sports Games: Winner (2010)
- Paektusan Sports Games: Winner (2010)
- DPR Korea 1st Division League: 3rd Place (2012)
- Pochonbo Sports Games: Winner (2012), Runner-up (2015)
- AFC President's Cup: Runner-up (2014)
4.2. National Team Awards
With the North Korean national team, Pak Song-chol's achievements include:
- AFC Challenge Cup: 3rd Place (2008), Winner (2010, 2012)
4.3. Individual Awards
Pak Song-chol has also earned individual recognition:
- AFC Challenge Cup: Top Scorer (2008)