29 Facts About Yeom Ki-hun

Yeom Ki-hun is a South Korean football manager and former player.

Yeom Ki-hun played for Nonsan Middle School, Ganggyeong Commercial High School and Honam University.

Yeom Ki-hun joined K League club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2006 after graduating from university.

In July 2007, Yeom Ki-hun was transferred to Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i.

Yeom Ki-hun moved to Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2010 in exchange for defender Lee Jae-sung and additional transfer fee.

Yeom Ki-hun made his Suwon debut in an AFC Champions League match against Singapore Armed Forces on 27 April 2010, and showed impressive performance as well as scoring two goals in the match.

Yeom Ki-hun was blamed in South Korea after his poor performance in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but led Suwon to the Korean FA Cup title in that year.

Yeom Ki-hun became Suwon's captain to replace Choi Sung-kuk, the previous captain and a match fixer, and played as Suwon's core player by providing 20 assists including 14 K League assists in the 2011 season.

Yeom Ki-hun enlisted in the Korean Police Agency to perform alternative civilian service in 2012, and played for the football club of Korean Police in the 2012 R League.

Korean Police participated in the inaugural season of the K League Challenge the next year, and Yeom Ki-hun became the top assist provider of the league after having 7 goals and 11 assists during 21 appearances.

Yeom Ki-hun returned to Suwon after finishing his alternative service in the middle of the 2013 season, and was re-elected as the team captain in 2014.

On 4 October 2015, Yeom Ki-hun had his 69th, 70th and 71st K League assists against Gwangju FC, breaking Shin Tae-yong's record of 68.

Yeom Ki-hun became the top assist provider of the K League Classic for two consecutive seasons in 2015 and 2016.

Yeom Ki-hun was a strong candidate for the Most Valuable Player award of the K League Classic by contributing to the most goals in 2015, but lost to winning team's striker Lee Dong-gook.

Yeom Ki-hun won his second Most Valuable Player award in the 2016 tournament, becoming the first-ever player to be named the MVP in two Korean FA Cups.

On 1 March 2018, Yeom Ki-hun assisted Lee Ki-je's goal against Jeonnam Dragons, having his 100th K League assist.

Yeom Ki-hun made his 43rd appearance in the Korean FA Cup and his 391st appearance for Suwon in addition to his 400th appearance in the K League, holding the records for most appearances in the Korean FA Cup and Suwon.

Yeom Ki-hun retired as a player after spending his last season as a player-coach and a caretaker manager in 2023.

Yeom Ki-hun made his senior international debut in a friendly match against Ghana on 8 October 2006,.

Yeom Ki-hun played all six matches for South Korea until the third place match in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup.

Yeom Ki-hun was one of main players in the national team under manager Huh Jung-moo.

Yeom Ki-hun scored two goals against North Korea and Japan in the 2008 EAFF Championship, becoming one of the top scorers of the competition as well as leading South Korea to the title.

Yeom Ki-hun participated in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, but he didn't live up to fans' expectations during the competition.

Yeom Ki-hun could participated in only FIFA World Cup qualification and EAFF Championship after playing as a substitute in the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.

Yeom Ki-hun scored with a free kick against Japan in the 2017 EAFF Championship.

Yeom Ki-hun was named the K League Manager of the Month for April 2024 by earning four consecutive wins in the K League 2, but resigned from his post after suffering five consecutive defeats the next month.

Yeom Ki-hun had surgery on his right big toe when he was six years old, and became a left-footed player.

Yeom Ki-hun suffered from Anemia and Meningitis during his schooldays.

Yeom Ki-hun was wounded in the head by a car accident in July 2006, and sustained a stress fracture every year from 2007 to 2010.