Moon So-ri (footballer)

In this Korean name, the family name is Moon.
Moon So-ri
Personal information
Full name Moon So-ri
Date of birth (1990-08-12) 12 August 1990
Place of birth Goyang, South Korea
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position Goalkeeper
Youth career
2006-2008 Dongsan I.C.T. High School
2009-2010 Ulsan College
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2011 Seoul City
2012 Chungbuk Sportstoto
International career
2008-2010 South Korea U-20 12 (0)
2010-2011 South Korea 2 (0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Moon So-ri (Korean: 문소리; born 12 August 1990) is a South Korean former footballer who played as a goalkeeper. Once considered to be one of the rising stars of South Korean women's football, Moon retired from playing early to start a family and now works as a goalkeeping coach at the Korea Football Association.[1][2]

Playing career

Youth career

Moon began playing football in the playground at elementary school and asked her parents to allow her to join a team but they refused, not considering it a suitable hobby for a girl.[3] Moon began writing daily letters to her parents begging them to let her play and eventually they promised that she could join a football academy if she got good grades on her exams at the end of elementary school.[4] Having satisfied their conditions, Moon began training at Changdeok Girls' Middle School in Seoul and continued her football career at Dongsan I.C.T. High School.[4][5]

Moon then attended Ulsan College, training with the women's football team alongside South Korea teammates Jeong Yeong-a and Kwon Eun-som.[6] The trio were awarded scholarships by the university after South Korea's third place finish at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup.[7]

WK League

Moon was selected by Seoul City in the fifth round of the 2011 WK League new players' draft.[8] During the 2011 season, a conflict arose between Moon and her club after Moon took time off to care for her mother, with Seoul City coaches alleging poor communication and attitude problems on Moon's part.[9] Seoul City Hall dismissed Moon in September 2011, but Moon was unable to sign with a new club until Seoul manager Seo Jung-ho agreed to accept a letter of resignation dated 30 September and sign Moon's release papers.[10]

Moon subsequently joined Chungbuk Sportstoto.[11] Shortly after arriving at the club, Moon got married and then announced her pregnancy, taking early retirement from her professional footballing career.[12]

International career

Moon was a key member of South Korea's squad at the 2010 FIFA U-20 Women's World Cup, playing in all six of the team's matches at the tournament.[13] The team lost 5-1 to Germany in the semi-finals, but Moon was praised for her performance despite the scoreline, especially as the squad did not have a goalkeeper-specific coach.[14][15] They went on to beat Colombia to finish in third place, becoming the first South Korean national team to do so at a FIFA tournament.[16]

Following the U-20 team's success at the World Cup, Moon was called up to South Korea's senior squad for the 2010 Asian Games.[13] She made her A match debut at the Asian Games in South Korea's 5-0 group stage win against Jordan.[17] She made her second and final senior international appearance against Northern Ireland at the 2011 Cyprus Cup.

Return to amateur football and futsal

Having retired from football to focus on her family, Moon made a return to the pitch in 2013 playing for amateur side Ulsan WFC alongside other former players and alumni of the football academy at Ulsan College.[18][19] In 2015 Moon joined Busan Kappa FC in the newly established women's division of the FK League.[20]

Coaching career

Having retired from playing, Moon turned to coaching. She qualified as a goalkeeping coach after studying at the '2013 Golden Glove Academy' at the Paju National Football Center, and in 2016 she earned her UEFA goalkeeping coaching license in Firenze, Italy.[21][12] Later that year, she started working as a goalkeeping coach for the U-12 team at Seongnam FC, where she later joined the coaching staff for the U-15 side.[22][23]

In addition to her UEFA license, Moon holds AFC C, B and A goalkeeping licenses as well as C and B field licenses. She has spoken about how when she first went abroad to train as a coach she was often dismissed for being Asian and a woman, and this perspective has influenced her coaching philosophy.[24] In 2024 she became the first woman to be appointed by the Korea Football Association as a full-time goalkeeping coach.[2] The following year she travelled to the U.S.A. with South Korea's U-15 women's team as they competed in the Nike Premier Cup.[25]

Personal life

In early 2012 Moon was subject to a flurry of media attention as she announced her forthcoming marriage on social media.[26] On 26 May 2012 she married former footballer Kang Min-gyu, whom she had met the previous year while working together coaching a youth team following her departure from Seoul City.[27] A few months later the couple announced that they were expecting a baby.[28] Moon gave birth to her daughter in November 2012.[29] Her second child was born in late 2014.[30]

References

  1. ^ Yang, Seung-nam (11 August 2010). "女축구 신화 주인공 지소연&문소리" [The main characters of the legend of women's football, Ji So-yun and Moon So-ri]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b Kwon, Tae-kyung (14 April 2024). "새로운 시대 문을 여는 소리" [The So-ri (sound) of the door to a new era opening]. Onside. 119. Korea Football Association: 43–49.
  3. ^ Kim, Han-sol (30 July 2010). "174cm 미모의 '리틀 카시야스' 문소리는 누구?" [Who is Moon So-ri, the beatiful 174cm-tall 'Little Casillas'?]. Money Today (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  4. ^ a b Song, JH (9 August 2010). "문소리 "화장은 딱1번, 부모님께 아파트 사주고 싶어…"" [Moon So-ri "I've only worn make-up once, I want to buy my parents an apartment"]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  5. ^ On, Jong-rim (1 August 2010). "얼짱GK 문소리 "친구 하이힐 신을때 나는"" [Face card GK Moon So-ri "When my friends wear high heels I..."]. New Daily (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  6. ^ Oh, Nu-ri (20 August 2010). "통일대기 대회 참가한 울산과학대팀과 1박2일 동행 취재" [Spending 2 days and 1 night with Ulsan College as they take part in the Unification Tournament]. The JoongAng (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  7. ^ Lee, Sang-hyun (9 August 2010). "울산과학대, 문소리 등 축구대표에 장학금" [Ulsan College awards scholarships to Moon So-ri and other national team footballers]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  8. ^ Kim, Jung-yong (16 November 2010). "'최인철의 아이들' WK리그 드래프트에서도 두각" ['Choi In-cheol's kids' make an impression at WK League draft]. Best Eleven (in Korean). Retrieved 20 November 2025.
  9. ^ Lee, Jung-soo (18 October 2011). "'얼짱 GK' 문소리, 서울시청서 해고 "이적 3년 후에 된다니…"" ['Face card GK' Moon So-ri dismissed from Seoul City: "they say I can't transfer for three years..."]. The Fact (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025 – via Nate.
  10. ^ Kim, Sung-jin (19 October 2011). "서울시청 서정호 감독, "문소리 이적동의서 써주겠다"" [Seoul City manager Seo Jung-ho "I will sign Moon So-ri's release agreement"]. Sportal Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025 – via Nate.
  11. ^ Ha, Sung-ryong (27 March 2012). "'얼짱 골키퍼' 문소리 "5월에 결혼해요"" ['Face card goalkeeper' Moon So-ri "I'm getting married in May"]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  12. ^ a b Kim, Hyung-min (19 June 2016). "문소리 "엄마라 포기했던 축구, 지도자로 계속할 거에요"" [Moon So-ri: "I gave up football to be a mom, but I'll keep going as a coach"]. Asia Economic (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025 – via Nate Sports.
  13. ^ a b Bae, Jin-nam (17 September 2010). "지소연.문소리 등 아시안게임 축구대표 발탁" [Ji So-yun, Moon So-ri et al. called up for national team for Asian Games]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  14. ^ "Female goalie Moon So-ri praised for fighting spirit". The Korea Times. 30 July 2010. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  15. ^ Yang, Seung-nam (30 July 2010). ""힘을 내요 문소리" 축구팬 격려 봇물" ["Stay strong, Moon So-ri" football fans' flow of encouragement]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  16. ^ Yi, Whan-woo (1 August 2010). "Korea finishes 3rd in U-20 Womens World Cup". The Korea Times. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  17. ^ Lim, Se-young (17 November 2010). "'얼짱 골키퍼' 문소리 '공이 오질 않아요' 요르단 유효슛팅 0" ['Face card goalkeeper' Moon So-ri: 'the ball isn't coming' as Jordan have 0 shots on target]. Newsen (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  18. ^ Kim, Se-hun (4 August 2013). "한달만에 급조된 여자축구 울산·대전, 전국선수권 출전" [Formed only a month ago, women's football teams from Ulsan and Daejeon to take part in National Women's Football Championship]. Sports Kyunghyang (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  19. ^ Wang, Chan-ok (1 August 2013). "'심서연 이민아가 뜬다'..여자축구선수권 5일 개막" ['Shim Seoyeon, Lee Min-a to appear' National Women's Football Championship kicks off on 5th]. Sportal Korea (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  20. ^ Kim, In-gyu (4 February 2015). "전 여자축구대표 '얼짱 골키퍼' 문소리, 새로운 도전" [Former women's national team footballer 'face card goalkeeper' Moon So-ri's new challenge]. DK Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  21. ^ Park, Sang-hyun (2 January 2015). "엄마 된 '지메시 절친' 문소리, 풋살로 돌아온다" ['Ji Messi's best friend' Moon So-ri returns to futsal after becoming a mother]. Sports Q (in Korean). Retrieved 26 November 2025.
  22. ^ Lee, Tae-heon (25 March 2021). "성남FC U15팀, 문소리 코치 선임" [Seongnam FC U-15 team appoint Moon So-ri as coach]. Seongnam Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  23. ^ Lee, Won-man (25 March 2021). "전 여자축구 국대 키퍼 문소리, 성남FC U15팀 GK 코치 부임. 육성 책임진다" [Former women's national team keeper Moon So-ri joins Seongnam FC U-15 team as goalkeeping coach, responsible for rising talent]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  24. ^ Kang, Ye-jin (10 May 2022). ""나는 꿈 있는 엄마이자 지도자" 문소리의 끝없는 도전기" ["I am a mother and a coach with a dream" - Moon So-ri's neverending challenge]. Sports Seoul (in Korean). Retrieved 26 November 2025 – via Nate Sports.
  25. ^ "Korean U-15 women's national team competes in Nike Premier Cup in Oregon". Chosun. 24 July 2025. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  26. ^ Lee, Jun-hyuk (28 March 2012). "'얼짱 여자축구 선수' 문소리 "오월의 신부가 됩니다"" ['Face card' female footballer Moon So-ri "I'll be a May bride"]. Aju News (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  27. ^ Kim, Yong-il (6 April 2012). "얼짱 GK 문소리 "오해받은 깜짝 결혼발표, 2015WC 복귀할 것"" ['Face card' GK Moon So-ri "Sudden wedding announcement led to misunderstandings, I'll be back for the 2015 World Cup"]. The Fact (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  28. ^ "'얼짱' 축구선수 문소리 "임신했어요" 고백" ['Face card' footballer Moon So-ri reveals "I'm pregnant"]. JoongAng Daily (in Korean). 2 August 2012. Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  29. ^ Kim, Yong-il (20 November 2012). "'얼짱 골키퍼' 문소리, 애 엄마 됐다…"건강아 사랑해"" ['Face card goalkeeper' Moon So-ri becomes a mother: "I love you, healthy one"]. The Fact (in Korean). Retrieved 24 November 2025.
  30. ^ Park, Sang-hyun (11 January 2015). "풋살 데뷔전 문소리 "대표까지 도전해볼래요"" [Moon So-ri makes her futsal debut "I'll challenge for the national team"]. Sports Q (in Korean). Retrieved 26 November 2025.
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