1. Early life and education
Seo Hyuk-su was born in Jecheon, Chungcheongbuk-do, South Korea. He completed his secondary education at Cheongju Commercial High School before attending Kyung Hee University. During his playing career in the A-League in Australia, fans and teammates often referred to him affectionately as 'Seo', an Australian pronunciation of his surname. He also earned the nickname 'Millstone' (맷돌maetdolKorean) due to his solid and robust physique, which was a hallmark of his tenacious playing style.
2. Playing career
Seo Hyuk-su's professional football career spanned both South Korea's K-League and Australia's A-League, where he established himself as a durable and influential midfielder.
2.1. In South Korea
Seo Hyuk-su began his professional career in 1998 with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the K-League. During his six seasons with the club until 2003, he became a key player, contributing significantly to the team's successes. He helped Jeonbuk win the Korean FA Cup twice, in 2000 and 2003, and reach the final in 1999. He was also instrumental in Jeonbuk's journey to the final of the 2002 Asian Cup Winners' Cup. In 1999, he was recognized as a joint top assistant in the K-League Cup. In 2004, he moved to Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma for one season before venturing abroad.
2.2. In Australia
In 2005, Seo Hyuk-su made a significant move to the A-League, joining Queensland Roar (later Brisbane Roar). He quickly became a pivotal figure for the club, playing every minute of the inaugural A-League season. By January 2009, he had played the equal second-highest number of games for Queensland Roar, alongside Massimo Murdocca, trailing only Matt McKay. His dedication and consistent performance earned him considerable popularity among fans, establishing him as a fan favourite. In 2007, he officially became an Australian citizen. His strong performances were noted, as he was voted the third most impressive foreign player in the 2005-06 A-League season by football fans. He also played a role in the team's qualification for the playoffs in the 2007-08 season. After four years with the Roar, his contract was not renewed in 2009, marking the end of his A-League tenure. Following his departure from Queensland Roar, he briefly played for Brisbane Olympic United in the Brisbane Premier League in 2010.
2.3. Career statistics
The following table details Seo Hyuk-su's professional club career statistics:
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | ||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||||||||
| South Korea | League | KFA Cup | League Cup | Asia | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| 1998 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K-League | 16 | 0 | ? | 0 | 10 | 0 | - | 26 | 0 | ||||||||||
| 1999 | 25 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 4 | - | 39 | 5 | ||||||||||||
| 2000 | 24 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 0 | - | 36 | 1 | ||||||||||||
| 2001 | 25 | 0 | ? | 0 | 9 | 0 | ? | 0 | 34 | 0 | |||||||||||
| 2002 | 25 | 0 | ? | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | 31 | 0 | ||||||||||||
| 2003 | 31 | 2 | 4 | 2 | - | - | 35 | 4 | |||||||||||||
| 2004 | Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma | 17 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ? | ? | 29 | 0 | ||||||||||
| Australia | League | Cup | League Cup | Oceania/Asia | Total | ||||||||||||||||
| 2005-06 | Brisbane Roar | A-League | 21 | 2 | - | - | 21 | 2 | |||||||||||||
| 2006-07 | 21 | 0 | - | - | 21 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2007-08 | 17 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2008-09 | 13 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||
| 2010 | Brisbane Olympic United | Brisbane Premier League | |||||||||||||||||||
| Total | South Korea | 163 | 3 | 14 | 3 | 53 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 230 | 10 | ||||||||||
| Australia | 72 | 2 | - | 0 | 0 | 72 | 2 | ||||||||||||||
| Career total | 235 | 5 | 14 | 3 | 53 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 302 | 12 | |||||||||||
3. Post-playing career
After concluding his playing career, Seo Hyuk-su transitioned into football coaching. Since 2016, he has served as the head coach of the football club at Jeju International University in South Korea, contributing to the development of young football talent.
4. Personal life
Seo Hyuk-su is married and has a son, Seo Seung-woo. Following in his father's footsteps, Seo Seung-woo is also a professional footballer, currently playing as a centre-back for FC Mokpo in the K3 League.
5. Honours
Seo Hyuk-su received several accolades throughout his professional playing career, both for his individual contributions and as part of successful club teams.
5.1. Personal
- K-League Cup Joint Top Assistant: 1999
- A-League Most Impressive Foreign Player (3rd place): 2005-06
- Queensland Roar Gary Wilkins Medal: 2005-06
- Queensland Roar Player's Player of the Year: 2005-06
5.2. Club
- Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
- FA Cup Winner: 2000, 2003
- FA Cup Runner-up: 1999
- Super Cup Runner-up: 2001
- Asian Cup Winners' Cup Runner-up: 2002