1. Overview
Park Jin-Po (박진포Korean; born August 13, 1987) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a full-back. He currently plays for Ulsan Citizen FC in the K3 League. Throughout his career, Park has been recognized for his consistent performance as a defender, contributing to multiple club successes including two FA Cup victories with Seongnam FC and a K League Challenge championship with Sangju Sangmu FC. He also earned a call-up to the South Korean national team, making his debut in 2014. Beyond his playing career, Park has established a football academy in his hometown of Ulsan and is known for a notable act of civic courage.
2. Personal Background
Park Jin-Po was born on August 13, 1987, in Ulsan Metropolitan City, South Korea. He is married and has two children, often citing his family as a significant motivation throughout his career, particularly during challenging times such as injuries. Park played youth football at Daegu University from 2007 to 2010 before turning professional.
3. Club Career
Park Jin-Po's professional football journey saw him play for several prominent South Korean clubs, establishing himself as a reliable full-back.
3.1. Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma
Park Jin-Po began his professional career after being selected by Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma (now Seongnam FC) in the 2011 K-League draft. He made his professional debut on March 5, 2011, in an away match against Pohang Steelers, which ended in a 1-1 draw, receiving a yellow card in the process. In his debut season, he quickly became a starting right-back and played a crucial role in leading the team to win the 2011 Korean FA Cup.
By the end of the 2013 season, Park had established himself as one of the top full-backs in the K League 1. Following the departure of captain Kim Sung-hwan, Park was appointed the new captain of Seongnam. In the 2013 season, he recorded 1 goal and 5 assists in the league, marking his career-high in attacking contributions. He was also selected for the K League's Weekly Best XI six times, the second-highest among players in his position, trailing only Lee Yong. On October 6, 2013, Park reached his 100th professional appearance in a match against Jeju. This milestone was achieved in 2 years, 7 months, and 1 day, making it the fastest among players who joined the professional league in 2011. Historically, it was the 11th fastest in 30 years of professional football history, and the second fastest since 2010, after Estiven (Ulsan, 2 years, 6 months, 29 days).
In the 2014 season, Park continued to lead the team as captain. Despite the team's weakened scoring ability, which resulted in him recording 1 goal and 2 assists, his performance in both offense and defense was outstanding. He was selected for the Weekly Best XI eight times in the 2014 K League Classic, the highest among players in his position, surpassing Shin Kwang-hoon (7 times) and Cha Du-ri (6 times). Notably, he was selected for the Weekly Best XI for three consecutive rounds (36R, 37R, 38R), significantly contributing to Seongnam's successful fight against relegation and securing their place in the first division. After winning the 2014 Korean FA Cup amidst the relegation battle, he famously handed the trophy to the supporters' section, expressing his deep appreciation for the fans. He also participated in the AFC Champions League during his time at Seongnam.
3.2. Military Service and Sangju Sangmu
In 2015, Park Jin-Po joined Sangju Sangmu FC to fulfill his mandatory military service. While at Seongnam, he primarily played as a right-back, but at Sangju, he often played as a left-back to accommodate the utilization of Lee Yong, another right-back. During his time with Sangju Sangmu, he played 52 league matches and scored 3 goals. Coach Cho Jin-ho highly praised Park's self-sacrificing spirit. In 2015, he was selected for the K League Challenge Best Eleven. He also contributed to Sangju Sangmu winning the 2015 K League Challenge championship. Park completed his military service and returned to Seongnam in September 2016.
3.3. Jeju United
In 2017, following Seongnam FC's relegation to the K League 2, Park Jin-Po transferred to Jeju United FC in the K League Classic. During his tenure at Jeju, he suffered a significant injury, a major setback in his career. Despite the injury, he remained resolute, stating that he "could not give up" for the sake of his beloved wife and children, emphasizing the "weight of being a family head." He played 60 matches and scored 1 goal for Jeju United. He left Jeju United after the 2019 season.
3.4. Ulsan Citizen FC and Football Academy
After leaving Jeju United, Park Jin-Po returned to his hometown of Ulsan. In March 2020, he established the Park Jin-Po Football Academy, a soccer school for toddlers and elementary school students. In 2021, he made a return to professional football by joining Ulsan Citizen FC in the K3 League. As of November 23, 2023, he had played 64 matches and scored 1 goal for Ulsan Citizen FC.
3.5. Career Statistics
Park Jin-Po's career statistics across various clubs are summarized below:
| Club | Period | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 2011-2016 | 138 | 2 |
| Sangju Sangmu | 2015-2016 | 52 | 3 |
| Jeju United | 2017-2019 | 60 | 1 |
| Ulsan Citizen FC | 2021-present | 64 | 1 |
4. National Team Career
Park Jin-Po was called up to the South Korean national team by coach Hong Myung-bo on January 2, 2014, for a training camp in Brazil and the United States. During the Brazil training camp, he and Kim Tae-hwan were noted for having the best physical fitness among the squad. He made his national team debut on January 4, 2014, in a match against the Mexico national team.
5. Awards and Honors
Park Jin-Po has accumulated several team and individual honors throughout his career.
- Seongnam FC
- FA Cup Winner: 2011, 2014
- Sangju Sangmu FC
- K League Challenge Winner: 2015
- Individual
- K League Challenge Best Eleven: 2015
- K League Weekly Best XI: 6 times (2013), 8 times (2014)
- Good Deed Award: 2016
6. Other Activities and Personal Life
Beyond his football career, Park Jin-Po is known for a notable act of civic courage. On April 3, 2016, while on leave in Mungyeong, Gyeongsangbuk-do, he, along with Sangju Sangmu teammates Lee Yong, Kim Sung-hwan, Kim Sung-joo, Kim Sung-jun, Lee Kyung-ryul, and Cho Young-cheol, apprehended a pickpocket. For this act, they received a Good Deed Award on April 9, 2016. As mentioned, his personal life is deeply intertwined with his professional one, with his wife and two children serving as a strong source of motivation, particularly during challenging periods like injuries.