1. Early Life and Personal Background
Rim Chang-woo's early life and personal details provide context to his development as a footballer and his life off the field.
1.1. Early Life and Development
Rim Chang-woo was born on 13 February 1992, in Jeju City, South Korea. He developed his football skills during his youth years, playing for Hyundai High School from 2007 to 2009, which laid the foundation for his future professional career.
1.2. Personal Life
Rim Chang-woo is set to marry Choi Soo-kyung on 15 December 2024.
2. Club Career
Rim Chang-woo's club career spans several teams across South Korea and the United Arab Emirates, showcasing his versatility and contributions to various defensive lines.
2.1. Ulsan Hyundai and Daejeon Citizen Loan
Rim Chang-woo was selected by Ulsan Hyundai in the 2010 K-League Draft. He made his K-League debut on 17 October 2012, in a match against Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Despite his initial signing, he struggled to secure regular playing opportunities with Ulsan Hyundai in his early years.
In 2014, seeking more playing time, Rim was loaned to Daejeon Citizen. During this loan spell, coach Cho Jin-ho notably deployed him as a right-back, a departure from his usual centre-back position. This tactical change proved beneficial, as Rim's active overlapping runs and offensive contributions revitalized Daejeon's defense. He scored a crucial goal against Bucheon FC 1995 in the K League Challenge's 6th round. Overall, he made 28 appearances and scored 2 goals for Daejeon, significantly contributing to the team's promotion.
Following his successful loan period, Rim returned to Ulsan Hyundai for the 2015 season, where he played in 27 league matches and scored one goal. His season concluded early on 16 November, when he, along with teammate Kim Seung-gyu, began four weeks of basic military training. Despite his contributions, Rim faced considerable competition for a starting position at Ulsan Hyundai, including from players like Jung Dong-ho and Kim Tae-hwan (footballer, born 1989).
2.2. Al-Wahda
In January 2016, Rim Chang-woo made a significant move to Al-Wahda in the UAE Pro League. He spent several seasons with the club, contributing to their successes. His tenure with Al-Wahda concluded prematurely in 2020 when he returned to South Korea due to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
2.3. Gangwon FC
Ahead of the 2021 season, Rim Chang-woo returned to the K League 1, joining Gangwon FC. He was an active player for Gangwon FC during his time there, contributing to the team's efforts in the top tier of South Korean football.
2.4. Jeju United
During the 2023 season, Rim Chang-woo transferred to Jeju United in a trade that involved Lee Ji-sol. This move saw him join his hometown club, where he continues to play as a key defender.
3. International Career
Rim Chang-woo has had an extensive international career, representing South Korea at various youth levels and eventually earning caps for the senior national team.
3.1. Youth National Teams
Rim Chang-woo has been a consistent presence in South Korea's youth national teams. He played for the South Korea U-17 team from 2007 to 2009, making 26 appearances and scoring 9 goals. In 2011, he was part of the South Korea U-20 squad, appearing in 6 matches, and was notably on the roster for the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
His most significant achievement at the youth level came with the South Korea U-23 team. In 2014, he was included in the final squad for the 2014 Asian Games announced on 14 August 2014. During the tournament, he played a pivotal role, ultimately scoring the winning goal against North Korea in the final match, deep into extra time. This decisive goal secured the gold medal for South Korea in football at the Asian Games, marking the first time in 28 years that the country had achieved this feat. For the U-23 team, he accumulated 12 caps and scored 3 goals.
3.2. Senior National Team
Rim Chang-woo made his senior national team debut for South Korea against China at the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup. His involvement with the senior squad also saw him called up on 1 June 2015, for a friendly match against the UAE and a World Cup qualifier against Myanmar, stepping in as a replacement for the injured Lim Chae-min who suffered a fatigue fracture in his left instep. He was subsequently included in the final roster for the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup, announced on 20 July. Throughout his senior international career, he has earned 6 caps.
4. Career Statistics
Rim Chang-woo's career statistics provide a comprehensive overview of his appearances and goals at both club and international levels.
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2010 | K League Classic | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||
| 2011 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| 2012 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2013 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | ||||
| 2015 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | - | - | - | 31 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 33 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 1 | ||
| Daejeon Citizen (loan) | 2014 | K League Challenge | 28 | 2 | 0 | 0 | - | - | - | 28 | 2 | |||
| Al-Wahda | 2015-16 | UAE Pro League | 12 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 1 | ||
| 2016-17 | 22 | 3 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | - | 38 | 4 | |||
| 2017-18 | 22 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 2 | ||
| 2018-19 | 24 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2019-20 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 4 | 1 | - | 31 | 1 | |||
| Total | 99 | 7 | 9 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 162 | 9 | ||
| Gangwon FC | 2021 | K League 1 | 28 | 1 | 4 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 34 | 2 | ||
| 2022 | 37 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | 39 | 2 | |||||
| 2023 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 0 | - | - | - | 16 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 78 | 3 | 9 | 1 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 89 | 4 | ||||
| Jeju United | 2023 | K League 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 9 | 0 | |||
| Career total | 245 | 13 | 24 | 1 | 30 | 0 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 325 | 16 | ||
5. Honours
Rim Chang-woo has achieved numerous collective and individual honours throughout his career at both club and international levels.
5.1. Club Honours
Rim Chang-woo has won several titles with the clubs he has played for:
- With Daejeon Citizen:
- K League Challenge: 2014
- With Al-Wahda FC:
- President's Cup: 2016-17
- UAE League Cup: 2015-16, 2017-18
- Super Cup: 2017, 2018
5.2. International Honours
Representing South Korea, Rim Chang-woo has earned the following international honours:
- With South Korea U-23:
- Asian Games: Gold Medal 2014
- With South Korea:
- EAFF East Asian Cup: 2015
5.3. Individual Honours
Rim Chang-woo has also received individual recognition for his performances:
- K League Challenge Best XI: 2014