1. Early Life and Background
Park Ji-hyun's early life and education laid the foundation for her distinguished basketball career, which was influenced by her family's involvement in the sport.
1.1. Childhood and Education
Park's interest in sports began at an early age, and she started playing basketball in elementary school alongside her older brother. During her time at Soongeui Girls' High School (숭의여자고등학교Korean), she gained recognition for her exceptional versatility on the court, which led to her early call-up to the senior national team for the 2018 Asian Games. In 2018, Park made history as the first Korean female basketball player to receive an invitation to the prestigious Basketball Without Borders Global Camp, where she was also selected as an All-Star.
1.2. Family
Park Ji-hyun comes from a family deeply involved in basketball. Her older brother, Park Ji-won, is also a professional basketball player. He played college basketball for Yonsei University and was drafted by Suwon KT Sonicboom in 2020, further solidifying the family's presence in the professional basketball scene.
2. Professional Career
Park Ji-hyun's professional career spans significant contributions to the WKBL, experiences in overseas leagues, and her impactful role in the South Korean national team at various levels.
2.1. WKBL Career
Park Ji-hyun officially began her professional career in the WKBL in 2018. On January 8, 2019, she participated in the 2018-19 WKBL Rookie Draft, where she was widely considered the top prospect. Despite the Asan Woori Bank Wibee having the lowest lottery probability (4.8%), they secured the first overall pick and selected Park Ji-hyun.
She made her professional debut on January 16, 2019, in a game against Shinhan Bank, entering as a substitute in the second and fourth quarters. In her debut, she played a total of 10 minutes, recording 7 points, 1 rebound, and 1 steal. In her rookie season, Park played in 15 games, averaging 8 points, 3.73 rebounds per game, and 1.67 assists per game. At the end-of-season awards ceremony, she was nominated for the Rookie of the Year award alongside Lee So-hee and ultimately won the honor, receiving 96 out of 101 votes from the press.
During the 2020-21 season, Park showcased her growing prowess, averaging 15.4 points, 10.4 rebounds (league-leading), 3 assists, 1.7 steals (league-leading), and 1.2 blocks (league-leading) per game. She also led the league in games played (30) and minutes per game (36:44). Her outstanding performance earned her a selection to the WKBL League Best 5. In the 2023-24 season, Park was instrumental in leading her team, Asan Woori Bank Wibee, to another championship title. Following this successful season, she announced her intention to pursue opportunities in overseas leagues.
2.2. Overseas Leagues
Following her success in the WKBL, Park Ji-hyun ventured into international basketball leagues. In May 2024, she signed a three-month contract with the Bankstown Bruins, a team in Australia's NBL1 (second division). After the completion of her contract with Bankstown, she moved to New Zealand in August 2024, signing with Tokomanawa, a championship-winning team in the New Zealand league. In 2025, Park further expanded her international experience by joining Azulmarino Mallorca Palma in the Spanish second division.
2.3. National Team Career
Park Ji-hyun has been a consistent presence in the South Korean national basketball program, representing her country at both youth and senior levels in numerous international competitions.
2.3.1. Youth Level
Park represented South Korea at the 2016 FIBA Under-17 World Championship for Women held in Spain. In six games, she led the tournament in scoring, averaging 16.5 points per game. She also contributed significantly with averages of 7.7 rebounds per game, 2.8 assists per game, 3.3 steals per game, and 0.7 blocks per game. Notably, in a game against the United States, Park recorded 17 points, 10 rebounds, 2 assists, and 3 steals, in a matchup against future 2021 WNBA Draft first overall pick, Charli Collier.
She continued her strong performances at the 2017 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Italy, where she led her team in points (15.1 points per game), rebounds (5.6 rebounds per game), assists (3.3 assists per game), and steals (3.3 steals per game).
At the 2019 FIBA Under-19 Women's Basketball World Cup in Bangkok, Thailand, Park once again led the tournament in scoring with 16.4 points per game and steals with 3.9 steals per game. In a game against the United States, she delivered an impressive performance with 26 points, 7 rebounds, 4 steals, and 1 block, facing future WNBA prospects Paige Bueckers, Ashley Joens, and Aliyah Boston. Following this game, U.S. coach Jeff Walz praised Park, stating, "She's talented, she really put it to us in our game. We had a really hard time defending her. She scored behind the three-point line, she drove and hit the pull-up jump shot. She's a very good basketball player."
2.3.2. Senior Level
Park made her debut with the senior national team at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang. She also participated in the 2018 FIBA Women's Basketball World Cup.
She represented South Korea in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, where she averaged 8.3 points per game, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists during the tournament. In a notable game against Serbia on August 1, 2021, Park recorded 17 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, and a steal.
3. Awards
Park Ji-hyun has received numerous accolades throughout her career, recognizing her individual skill and her contributions to team success.
3.1. Individual Awards
- 3× WKBL Best 5: 2020, 2022, 2023
- WKBL Steals Award: 2020
- WKBL Rookie of the Year Award: 2018
- WKBL All-Star Game Best Performance Award: 2020
- Basketball Person of the Year: 2018
3.2. Team and National Team Awards
- 2018 Asian Games: Silver Medal
- 2022 Asian Games: Bronze Medal
4. Statistics
The following table details Park Ji-hyun's regular season statistics in the WKBL.
- G: Games Played
- MPG: Minutes Per Game
- 2P%: 2-Point Field Goal Percentage
- 3P%: 3-Point Field Goal Percentage
- FT%: Free Throw Percentage
- RPG: Rebounds Per Game
- APG: Assists Per Game
- SPG: Steals Per Game
- BPG: Blocks Per Game
- PPG: Points Per Game
- Bold: Career High
| Season | Team | G | MPG | 2P% | 3P% | FT% | RPG | APG | SPG | BPG | PPG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee | 15 | 19:06 | 39.0 | 51.4 | 73.9 | 3.73 | 1.67 | 0.67 | 0.07 | 8.00 |
| 2019 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee | 27 | 34:27 | 43.6 | 22.7 | 65.2 | 5.56 | 3.44 | 1.41 | 0.81 | 8.37 |
| 2020 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee | 30 | 36:44 | 43.7 | 28.9 | 60.7 | 10.40 | 2.93 | 1.70 | 1.23 | 15.37 |
| 2021 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee | 29 | 33:16 | 52.6 | 24.2 | 70.8 | 6.9 | 3.1 | 1.5 | 0.4 | 12.7 |
| 2022 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee | 29 | 32:46 | 55.3 | 33.9 | 81.8 | 8.9 | 4.5 | 1.2 | 0.4 | 15.3 |
| 2023 | Asan Woori Bank Wibee | 28 | 34:49 | 52.6 | 30.6 | 77.5 | 9.3 | 3.9 | 1.9 | 0.6 | 17.3 |
5. Media Appearances
Park Ji-hyun has appeared in various media programs, highlighting her career and personal journey.
- Docu Gonggam (다큐공감Korean) Episode 319 "Nineteen, I Want to Be a Legend" (September 29, 2019, KBS 1TV)
- I Love Basketball (아이러브 바스켓볼Korean) Season 2, Episode 1 (November 20, 2023, KBS N Sports)
6. Personal Life
Park Ji-hyun is professionally represented by Gervin Global Management, a sports and entertainment management company co-founded by basketball legend George "The Iceman" Gervin, Jerald Barisano, and Robert Koo.