Kim Jong-hun (footballer)

Kim Jong-hun
Personal information
Date of birth (1956-09-01) September 1, 1956 (age 68)
Place of birth Pyongyang, North Korea
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
April 25 Sports Club
Total (139(4 og))
International career
1973–1985 North Korea 4 (0)
Managerial career
–2007 April 25
2007–2010 North Korea
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Kim Jong-hun
Hangul
김정훈
Hanja
Revised RomanizationGim Jeong-hun
McCune–ReischauerKim Chŏng-hun

Kim Jong-hun (김정훈; born September 1, 1956) is a retired North Korean footballer and football manager. He served as head coach of the North Korea national team, and managed them at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Biography

As a player, Kim Jong-hun has spent his career at April 25 Sports Club.[1] He was capped four times for North Korea during the qualifications for the 1974 and 1986 FIFA World Cups.[1]

After ending his player career, Kim became a manager. He managed April 25 Sports Team until 2007, when he became the manager of North Korea national team.[1] In 2009, he led the team as it qualified for the 2010 FIFA World Cup, their first since 1966.[2][3]

After a disappointing showing at the World Cup, Kim faced harsh criticism upon his return to North Korea. Radio Free Asia reported that he was publicly shamed and condemned for hours in front of 400 people, including the North Korean sports minister.[4]

At the same event, the team members were commanded to individually criticize their coach, who was accused of betraying General Kim Jong-un, the country's heir apparent.[4] The report also mentioned that he had been stripped of his membership in the Workers' Party of Korea and forced to work hard labor on a construction site as punishment.[4] It is however unknown whether Kim was really faced with such a violating punishment, as far as North Korea has its information mostly closed from the other world. Little is known about Kim Jong-hun's current (by December 2024) occupation, probably due to the same reason.

References

  1. ^ a b c KIM Jong Hun, FIFA, archived from the original on 2010-06-15, retrieved 2010-06-18
  2. ^ After 43 years, North Korea back in Europe, CBS Sports, 2009-10-07, archived from the original on 2016-03-03, retrieved 2009-10-11
  3. ^ Kim ecstatic as North Korea make World Cup, ESPN, 2009-06-18, archived from the original on 2009-06-26, retrieved 2009-10-11
  4. ^ a b c Moon Sung-hui; Jackson-Han, Sarah (July 28, 2010). "World Cup Team Shamed, Reprimanded". Radio Free Asia. Archived from the original on January 10, 2017. Retrieved July 30, 2010.