1. Overview
Park Ye-eun (박예은Park Ye-eunKorean; born 17 October 1996) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays primarily as a midfielder, and occasionally as a forward. Her career spans from her early development in youth clubs and university football in South Korea to playing professionally in the WK League, the WSL in England, and the SWPL 1 in Scotland, before returning to the WK League. She has also been a consistent presence in the South Korea national team, representing her country in various youth and senior international tournaments. Park is recognized for her contributions to both her clubs and the national squad, having earned individual accolades such as the KFA Young Player of the Year award and achieving numerous team successes, including championship wins and runner-up finishes across different levels of competition.
2. Early Life and Education
Park Ye-eun's formative years were marked by her early entry into football and a comprehensive educational journey through various levels of schooling in South Korea.
2.1. Childhood and Education
Born on 17 October 1996, Park Ye-eun began her football career during her elementary school years. She attended Hanam Jungang Elementary School, followed by Gwangsan Middle School, and then Seoul Dongsan High School. After completing her high school education, she enrolled in the International Sports Department at Korea University Sejong Campus. During her time at university, she distinguished herself by winning scoring awards and securing various championship trophies in collegiate competitions. Her exceptional performance during this period also led to her being awarded the KFA Young Player of the Year in 2016. She later withdrew from Korea University.
2.2. Youth Club Career
Park Ye-eun's youth career saw her participate in numerous tournaments across elementary, middle, high school, and university levels, showcasing her emerging talent and contributing significantly to her teams' successes.
Her elementary school statistics with Gwangju Hanam Jungang Elementary School (50-minute matches) are as follows:
| Club | Season | Autumn Women's Football Federation Tournament | Season Total | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | ||
| Gwangju Hanam Jungang Elementary School | 2007 | 5 | 2 | (-) | 5 | 2 | (-) |
| 2008 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 15(?) | 7(?) | 2 | |
| Elementary School Subtotal | 5 | 2 | 2 | 20(?) | 9(?) | 2 | |
Her middle school statistics with Gwangju Gwangsan Middle School (70-minute matches) are as follows:
| Club | Season | Spring Women's Football Federation Tournament | Unification Flag National Women's Football Tournament | Cheonghakgi National Middle School Football Tournament | National Youth Sports Festival | National Women's Football Championship | Queen's Cup National Women's Football Tournament | Autumn Women's Football Federation Tournament | Season Total | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | ||
| Gwangju Gwangsan Middle School | 2009 | 2 | 0 | (-) | 3 | 2 | (-) | 1 | 0 | (-) | 3 | 2 | (-) | 9 | 4 | (-) | |||||||||
| 2010 | 3 | 0 | (-) | 3 | 2 | (-) | 2 | 0 | (-) | 2 | 0(?) | (-) | 2 | 2 | (-) | 12 | 4(?) | (-) | |||||||
| 2011 | 5 | 1 | (-) | 3 | 0 | (-) | 1 | 0 | (-) | 4 | 3 | 0(?) | 3 | 1 | (-) | 16 | 5 | 0(?) | |||||||
| Middle School Subtotal | 10 | 1 | (-) | 3 | 2 | (-) | 6 | 2 | (-) | 4 | 0 | (-) | 6 | 3(?) | 0(?) | 3 | 1 | (-) | 5 | 4 | (-) | 37 | 13(?) | 0(?) | |
Her high school statistics with Seoul Dongsan High School (80-minute matches) are as follows:
| Club | Season | Spring Women's Football Federation Tournament | National Women's Football Championship | Cheonghakgi National High School Football Tournament | Autumn Women's Football Federation Tournament | National Sports Festival | Season Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | ||
| Seoul Dongsan High School | 2012 | 5 | 0 | (-) | 6 | 2 | (-) | 5 | 1 | 0(?) | 4 | 3 | 0(?) | 2 | 0 | (-) | 22 | 6 | 0(?) |
| 2013 | 6 | 1 | (-) | 6 | 4 | 0(?) | 4 | 3 | (-) | 7 | 3 | (-) | 1 | 0 | (-) | 28 | 12 | 0(?) | |
| 2014 | 6 | 14 | (-) | 0 | 0 | (-) | 4 | 2 | (-) | 4 | 1 | (-) | 3 | 4 | (-) | 17 | 21 | (-) | |
| High School Subtotal | 17 | 15 | (-) | 12 | 6 | 0(?) | 13 | 6 | 0(?) | 15 | 7 | 0(?) | 6 | 4 | (-) | 67 | 39 | 0(?) | |
Her university statistics with Chungnam Korea University and Sejong Korea University are as follows:
| Club | Season | Spring Women's Football Federation Tournament | Queen's Cup National Women's Football Tournament | National Women's Football Championship | Autumn Women's Football Federation Tournament | National Sports Festival | Season Total | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | Matches | Goals | Assists | ||
| Chungnam Korea University | 2015 | 3 | 1 | (-) | 3 | 4 | (-) | 4 | 2 | (-) | 3 | 4 | (-) | 13 | 11 | (-) | |||
| 2016 | 6 | 11 | (-) | 2 | 0 | (-) | 5 | 7 | (-) | 2 | 1 | (-) | 15 | 19 | (-) | ||||
| Sejong Korea University | 2016 | 3 | 1 | (-) | 3 | 1 | (-) | ||||||||||||
| University Subtotal | 9 | 12 | (-) | 5 | 4 | (-) | 5 | 7 | (-) | 6 | 3 | (-) | 6 | 5 | (-) | 31 | 31 | (-) | |
| Youth Club Career Total (Elementary + Middle School + High School + University) | 155(?) | 92(?) | 0(?) | ||||||||||||||||
Note: (-) indicates records not specified or missing, (?) indicates unconfirmed or uncertain official records.
3. Professional Career
Park Ye-eun's professional career has seen her play for several clubs in South Korea and Europe, alongside her consistent involvement with the South Korea national team.
3.1. Club Career
Park Ye-eun began her senior club career in South Korea before moving to European leagues and eventually returning to her home country.
3.1.1. Gyeongju KHNP
Park started her professional journey with Gyeongju Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power (Gyeongju KHNP) in the WK League. She played for the club from 2017 to 2019, making significant contributions as a midfielder.
3.1.2. Brighton & Hove Albion
In 2022, Park Ye-eun made a move to England, signing with Brighton & Hove Albion in the WSL. During the 2022-23 season, she made 4 appearances in the WSL and 3 appearances in the League Cup, totaling 7 appearances for the club.
3.1.3. Heart of Midlothian
On 14 September 2023, Park signed with Heart of Midlothian in the SWPL 1. However, she did not make any appearances for the club during the 2023-24 season.
3.1.4. Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels
Ahead of the 2024 season, Park Ye-eun transferred back to the WK League to join Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels. This move marked her return to South Korean club football.
3.2. National Team Career
Park Ye-eun has been an integral part of the South Korea women's national football team program, representing her country at various age levels and in major international tournaments. She participated in the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup and the 2016 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup. She was also part of the squad for the 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship. Her senior national team career includes appearances in Olympic qualifiers, Asian Cup qualifiers, and friendly matches, where she has contributed with goals and assists.
4. Match Records
This section provides a statistical overview of Park Ye-eun's club and international career, detailing her appearances and goals across various competitions.
4.1. Club Statistics
Statistics for Park Ye-eun's professional club career:
| Club | Season | League | Domestic Cup | Playoffs/Championship | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Gyeongju KHNP | 2017 | WK League | 22 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 27 | 7 |
| Gyeongju KHNP | 2018 | WK League | 28 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 35 | 4 |
| Gyeongju KHNP | 2019 | WK League | ||||||||
| Brighton & Hove Albion | 2022-23 | WSL | 4 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| Heart of Midlothian | 2023-24 | SWPL 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career total | 54 | 8 | 12 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 69 | 11 | ||
4.2. International Statistics
Statistics for Park Ye-eun's international career with the South Korea national team:
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 2019 | 4 | 0 |
| 2020 | 1 | 2 | |
| 2021 | 5 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 6 | 1 | |
| Total | 16 | 4 | |
List of international goals scored by Park Ye-eun:
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Park goal.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 February 2020 | Jeju World Cup Stadium, Seogwipo, South Korea | Myanmar | 4-0 | 7-0 | 2020 AFC Women's Olympic Qualifying Tournament |
| 2 | 5-0 | |||||
| 3 | 17 September 2021 | Pakhtakor Stadium, Tashkent, Uzbekistan | Mongolia | 11-0 | 12-0 | 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualification |
| 4 | 15 November 2022 | Orangetheory Stadium, Christchurch, New Zealand | New Zealand | 1-1 | 1-1 | Friendly |
Her first international goal for the U-19 national team was scored on 19 August 2015, against Iran U-19 at the Jiangsu Football Training Center Stadium in Nanjing, China, during the 2015 AFC U-19 Women's Championship qualifiers.
5. Awards
Park Ye-eun has received both individual accolades and achieved significant team successes throughout her football career, spanning youth, collegiate, and professional levels.
5.1. Individual Awards
- KFA Young Player of the Year: 2016
5.2. Team Awards
Park Ye-eun has contributed to numerous team achievements with her clubs and the national team:
- South Korea National Team
- AFC U-20 Women's Asian Cup: Third Place (2015)
- Gyeongju Korea Hydro & Nuclear Power
- National Sports Festival: Runner-up (2017), Third Place (2018)
- WK League Regular Season: Runner-up (2018)
- WK League Championship Final: Runner-up (2018)
- Korea University (Sejong Campus)
- National Sports Festival (University Division): Winner (2016)
- Korea University (Chungnam Campus)
- Spring Korean Women's Football Federation Tournament (University Division): Winner (2016), Runner-up (2015)
- Queen's Cup National Women's Football Tournament (University Division): Winner (2016)
- National Women's Football Championship (University Division): Winner (2016)
- Autumn Korean Women's Football Federation Tournament (University Division): Winner (2015, 2016)
- National Sports Festival (University Division): Winner (2015)
- Seoul Dongsan High School
- Spring Korean Women's Football Federation Tournament (High School Division): Runner-up (2013, 2014), Third Place (2012)
- National Women's Football Championship (High School Division): Winner (2014), Runner-up (2012, 2013)
- Cheonghakgi National High School Football Tournament: Winner (2012), Runner-up (2014), Third Place (2013)
- Autumn Korean Women's Football Federation Tournament (High School Division): Winner (2014), Runner-up (2013), Third Place (2012)
- Unification Flag National Women's Football Tournament: Runner-up (2013)
- National Sports Festival (High School Division): Third Place (2014)
- Gwangju Hanam Jungang Elementary School
- Spring Korean Women's Football Federation Tournament (Elementary Division): Third Place (2008)
- Queen's Cup National Women's Football Tournament (Elementary Division): Runner-up (2008)
- National Women's Football Championship (Elementary Division): Third Place (2008)