Kim Hye-ri (footballer)

Kim Hye-ri
Kim Hye-ri in 2010
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-06-25) 25 June 1990
Place of birth South Korea
Height 1.65 m (5 ft 5 in)
Position Defender
Team information
Current team
 Wuhan Jiangda
Number 90
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011–2013 Seoul WFC
2014–2024 Hyundai Steel Red Angels
2025– Wuhan Jiangda
International career‡
2008–2010 South Korea U20 18 (4)
2010– South Korea 136 (1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals
‡ National team caps and goals as of 16 July 2025

Kim Hye-ri (Korean: 김혜리, Korean pronunciation: [kim.ɦje̞.ɾi] or [kim] [hje̞.ɾi]; born 25 June 1990) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a defender for Wuhan Jiangda and the South Korea national team.

Youth career

Kim was interested in football from a young age, asking her mother to buy her a football for her sixth birthday, and started playing competitively while attending Sangwon Elementary School in Seongnam.[1] At Oju Middle School, Kim trained in the girls' football academy alongside Ji So-yun. As the team dominated successive domestic U-15 tournaments, Kim and Ji were recognised as generational talents, with Kim sometimes referred to as the 'female Hong Myung-bo'.[2] Having served as captain at Oju Middle School, Kim went on to play at Seoul Dongsan I.C.T. Industry High School and later, Yeoju Institute of Technology.[3][4]

Club career

WK League

Kim was selected by Seoul City Amazones WFC in the first round of the 2011 WK League draft.[5] She made her league debut in the opening game of the 2011 season, establishing herself as a key part of Seoul's defensive line.[6] After completing her three-year contract in the capital, Kim was signed by Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels ahead of the 2014 season as the club sought to defend their first league title.[7] Kim played for Incheon from 2014 to 2024, lifting the WK League trophy in ten consecutive seasons.[8] Kim's individual performances saw her named the league's best defender by the Korean Women's Football Federation in 2023 and 2024.[9][10] She was also nominated for the Women's Player of the Year award at the 2023 AFC Annual Awards.[11]

Wuhan Jiangda

After the end of the 2024 season, Kim announced her move to Chinese side Wuhan Jiangda, becoming the first South Korean woman to play in the Chinese Women's Super League.[8][12] Shortly after her arrival in Wuhan, the city hosted the final knockout stages of the inaugural season of the AFC Women's Champions League. Kim was a key member of Jiangda's squad, playing all 120 minutes of the final against Melbourne City, which finished as a draw.[13] Wuhan Jiangda won the penalty shoot-out that followed to win the tournament, making Kim the first South Korean woman to lift the AWCL trophy.[14] The victory earned Wuhan qualification for the 2026 FIFA Women's Champions Cup, the inaugural edition of the competition. Wuhan became the first ever team to win a match at the FIFA Women's Champions Cup when they beat Auckland United FC, with Kim providing an assist for the only goal of the match.[15]

International career

South Korea U-20

Kim was captain of the South Korean squad that came in third place at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, becoming the first South Korean national team to finish third in a FIFA tournament.[16][17] The achievement was considered a milestone in the country's football history and brought a flurry of media attention to the women's game in South Korea.[18]

South Korea

Kim went on to represent her country at the Women's World Cup in 2015, 2019 and 2023.[19] She became South Korea's captain in 2019, succeeding Cho So-hyun in the role as the squad underwent a period of reorganisation following the departure of former manager Yoon Deok-yeo.[20]

When Kim made her 100th international appearance in a 2022 friendly match against Canada, the Canadian Soccer Association honoured her with a pre-match ceremony alongside three Canadian players marking the same milestone.[21] Kim provided an assist against Chinese Taipei in South Korea's final match at the 2025 EAFF E-1 Football Championship, helping the team claim the title for the first time in 20 years.[22][23]

Honours

Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels

Wuhan Jiangda

South Korea U-20

South Korea

Individual

  • Korea Women's Football Federation Awards Defender of the year: 2023, 2024[9][10]
  • KPFA WK League Awards Best XI: 2024[27]

References

  1. ^ Hong, Joung-a (12 October 2010). "U-20 여자축구대표팀 주장 김혜리 선수 - 성남분당용인수지내일신문". Bundang Naeil Shinmun (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025 – via Naver Blog.
  2. ^ Jeon, Jong-hwi (31 July 2005). "오주중 여자축구부 9개대회 연속 무패우승" [Oju Middle School girls' football academy win ninth consecutive tournament in unbeaten run]. Hani (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  3. ^ An, Jung-hwan (27 February 2018). "동산정보산업고 출신, 여자월드컵 16강진출 주역…'대한민국을 빛내다'" [Alumni of Dongsan I.C.T. Industry High lead the way in qualification for Women's World Cup round of 16, 'making Korea shine']. Asia Today (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  4. ^ Hong, Yeo-jin (3 August 2010). "축구계 '동력'으로 부상, 여주대학 여자축구부" [Yeoju U emerges as 'powerhouse' of women's football]. University News Network (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  5. ^ Kim, Jung-yong (16 November 2011). "'최인철의 아이들' WK리그 드래프트에서도 두각" ['Choi In-cheon's kids' prominent at WK League draft]. Best Eleven (in Korean). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  6. ^ Kwon, Su-hyun (22 March 2011). "최인철 감독 "심서연·김혜리 기대된다"" [Manager Choi In-cheol: "I have great expectations for Shim Seo-yeon and Kim Hye-ri]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  7. ^ Choi, Yu-tak (13 March 2014). "현대제철 FA 대박… '철의 전력' 완성" [Hyundai Steel snapping up free agents to build 'steel strength']. Kiho Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  8. ^ a b An, Young-jun (13 December 2024). "여자축구 주장 김혜리, 중국 우한으로 이적…'변화가 필요한 시점'" [Women's football captain Kim Hye-ri transfers to Wuhan, China: 'Time for a change']. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved 14 February 2025.
  9. ^ a b Kim, Seon-woong (14 December 2023). "올해의 수비수상, 인천 현대제철 김혜리" [Defender of the year, Incheon Hyundai Steel's Kim Hye-ri]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  10. ^ a b Lim, Chang-man (12 December 2024). "인천 현대제철 김혜리, WK리그 2024시즌 '최고의 수비수'" [Incheon Hyundai Steel's Kim Hyeri named 2024 WK League Defender of the year]. Gyeonggi Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 12 December 2024.
  11. ^ Nicholson, Paul (28 October 2024). "AFC warms up for 2023 season awards night in Seoul". Inside World Football. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  12. ^ "Captain Kim Hye-ri will continue to challenge until the day she retires from her first league transfer battle". Sports Chosun. 16 December 2024. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  13. ^ Kim, Do-yong (27 May 2025). "'아시아 정상' 김혜리 "손흥민 눈물 보고 우승 더욱 간절하더라"" ['At the peak of Asia' Kim Hye-ri: "Son Heung-min's tears made me even more desperate to win"]. News1 (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  14. ^ Yoon, Jin-man. ""역대 최초 남녀 모두 챔스 우승" 중국 축구 자화자찬…김혜리의 우한, '기적의 우승'으로 상금 17억 확보" ["[Korean] victory in both men's and women's Champions League for first time ever" pride of China, Kim Hye-ri's Wuhan secure 1.7bn prize money in 'miraculous victory']. Sports Chosun (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  15. ^ "Wuhan Jiangda defeats Auckland United to advance in inaugural FIFA Women's Champions Cup". Xinhua. 8 October 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  16. ^ "S. Korea finishes 3rd at U-20 World Cup". Oana News. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  17. ^ "월드컵 대표팀 이끄는 여주대 여자축구부" [Yeoju U women's football academy leading national team for World Cup]. Kyeongin Ilbo (in Korean). 29 July 2010. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  18. ^ On, Nu-ri (2 August 2010). "변방에서 중심으로 … 한국 여자축구 '소녀시대'열다" [Out of the shadows and into the centre: 'girls' generation' opens for Korean women's football]. The JoongAng (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  19. ^ Jeon, Young-ji (17 December 2024). "'여축 첫中리그 이적'투혼 캡틴 김혜리"은퇴하는 날까지 계속 도전할것"" ['First women's footballer to transfer to Chinese league' determined captain Kim Hyeri: "I'll keep going until the day I retire"]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  20. ^ Lee, Dong-chil (28 September 2019). "여자축구 대표팀 소집…황인선 감독대행 "미국에 도전하겠다"" [Women's national football team training: Acting manager Hwang In-sun: "we have to square up to the U.S.A."]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  21. ^ Lee, Jason (28 June 2022). "Korea vs. Canada: A match of celebrations, reunions, and pride". Football Asian. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  22. ^ a b "Korea's women victorious in EAFF E-1 Football Championship". K League United. 20 July 2025. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  23. ^ Lee, Jihae (17 July 2025). "Women's soccer team wins E. Asian title for 1st time in 20 years". korea.net. Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  24. ^ "Wuhan Jiangda beats Melbourne City to win inaugural AFC Women's Champions League title". China Daily. Retrieved 12 November 2025.
  25. ^ Jung, Jae-woo (18 September 2023). "아시안게임 女축구 주장 김혜리 "집에 동메달만 3개…이번엔 우승을"" [Asian Games women's football captain Kim Hye-ri: "I have three bronze medals at home... this time I want to win"]. Segye Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  26. ^ Choi, Song-a (6 February 2022). "한국 여자축구, 아시안컵 준우승…결승전서 중국에 2-3 역전패" [Korea women's football team runners-up in Asian Cup after China come from behind to win 3-2 in final]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025.
  27. ^ Kim, Geum-bo (14 November 2024). "베스트일레븐 수상 소감 말하는 김혜리" [Kim Hye-ri shares her thoughts after being honoured in Best XI]. Newsis (in Korean). Retrieved 9 December 2025 – via Nate Sports.
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