1. Overview
Park Jung-hwan (박정환Park Jung-hwanKorean, 朴 晶煥Pakku JonhwanJapanese; born January 14, 1977) is a former South Korean professional footballer. He primarily played as a striker or attacking midfielder, and his career spanned clubs in South Korea, China, and Indonesia.
2. Early life and background
Park Jung-hwan was born on January 14, 1977, in Geochang-gun, Gyeongsananam-do, South Korea. He pursued his education at Incheon University. Physically, he stands at 71 in (180 cm) tall and weighs 170 lb (77 kg).
3. Club career
Park Jung-hwan's professional club career encompassed various teams across South Korea, China, and Indonesia, where he spent a significant portion of his later career.
3.1. K League and Korean National League
Park Jung-hwan began his professional career in 1999, joining Anyang LG Cheetahs, which later became FC Seoul. During his tenure with the club, he experienced a period in 2003 where he was unregistered, but he subsequently re-registered later the same year and continued to play until the end of the 2003 season. From 2004 to 2005, he fulfilled his mandatory military service while playing for Gwangju Sangmu. Following his military service and a spell abroad, he returned to the Korea National League in the summer of 2007 to sign with Suwon City FC. He also had a period at Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from 2006 to 2007 and later played for Ansan Hi FC in 2012.
Here is a summary of his appearances and goals for Korean clubs:
| Club | Years | Appearances | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anyang LG / FC Seoul | 1999-2005 | 29 | 10 |
| Gwangju Sangmu FC | 2004-2005 | 25 | 6 |
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2006-2007 | 0 | 0 |
| Suwon City FC | 2008-2009 | 27 | 8 |
| Ansan Hi FC | 2012 |
3.2. Career abroad
After his time in the K League, Park Jung-hwan embarked on an international career, playing for clubs in China and Indonesia.
3.2.1. China: Dalian Yiteng F.C.
In 2008, Park Jung-hwan moved to China to play for Dalian Yiteng. The available records do not specify his exact number of appearances or goals during his tenure with the club.
3.2.2. Indonesia: Persiba Balikpapan
In 2009, Park Jung-hwan joined Persiba Balikpapan in Indonesia's Liga Indonesia. He made his first appearance for Persiba on November 5, coming on as a substitute against Bontang FC. His first goal for the club was scored on November 21, 2009, during a Round 8 match of the Indonesian Super League against Persija Jakarta. He played for Persiba from 2009 to 2010, recording 10 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
3.2.3. Indonesia: PSM Makassar
In 2010, during the February transfer window, Park Jung-hwan joined PSM Makassar on a six-month loan spell. During his time with PSM Makassar, he made 12 appearances and scored 5 goals.
3.2.4. Indonesia: Sriwijaya FC
Sriwijaya FC became Park Jung-hwan's third Indonesian club, which he joined approximately one year after his arrival in Indonesia. On August 11, the Sumatera Ekspres newspaper reported that he had agreed to join the club. Upon joining, he was assigned the number 88 jersey. During his 2010 season with Sriwijaya FC, he made 4 appearances but did not score any goals.
4. International career
Park Jung-hwan was never called up to or made any appearances for the South Korea national football team.
5. Playing style and position
Park Jung-hwan primarily played as a striker (also known as a forward) and was also capable of playing as an attacking midfielder. His physical attributes include a height of 71 in (180 cm) and a weight of 170 lb (77 kg).
6. Honours
Park Jung-hwan achieved several club honours during his career, particularly during his time in Indonesia.
6.1. Club honours
With Sriwijaya FC, Park Jung-hwan won the 2010 Indonesian Community Shield and the 2010 Indonesian Inter Island Cup.