Major League Soccer has long been home to a diverse collection of talent, featuring representatives from 79 different nations in 2024. While the US and Canada naturally have the most representation, plenty of those 79 nations are represented by only a handful of players, if they even have more than one. From Bolivia to Cameroon, you’d be hard-pressed to find a corner of the world that doesn’t have a reason to tune into MLS.
Here in Minnesota, your Loons are no exception to this league-wide recruiting approach. Above our precious Wonderwall at Allianz Field, fans can see the flags of every nation represented on the roster, and while that list stretches the width of the stadium, there’s one flag in particular that I want to focus on today: The Republic of Korea, or as we commonly call it, South Korea.
In 2025, that flag will represent two players in the Loons’ squad, as new midfielder Hoyeon Jung joins countryman Sang Bin Jeong on the pitch. To call MLS “uncharted territory” for a young midfielder like Hoyeon Jung is fair—but only to a point. The 24-year-old has only played for one team, and that was in his home country. This is all new for him. But he has the chance to learn alongside someone who’s already taken the steps ahead of him, and there’s a history of solid stories for him to look to for inspiration.
South Koreans in MLS
When Minnesota United added the South Korean flag to the stadium with the signing of Sang Bin Jeong in 2023, he became just the sixth Korean player in league history. With the addition of Hoyeon Jung here in Minnesota and D.C. United’s signing of goalkeeper Kim Jun-Hong, that list is about to swell to eight, which prompted me to take a look back at the names that came first.
It all started with a pair of Korean legends: Hong Myung-Bo—whose storied career saw him earn the joint-most national team caps in South Korean history (136)—and Lee Young-pyo—who was among the world’s most talented fullbacks at the peak of his powers. The former spent the 2003 and 2004 seasons with the LA Galaxy, while the latter represented the Vancouver Whitecaps in 2012 and 2013. They joined the league at 33 and 34 years old, respectively, after the bulk of their impressive careers had already passed them by.
After Young-pyo’s departure in 2013, the league didn’t see another Korean player until the Seattle Sounders added defender Kim Kee-Hee in 2018. The 28-year-old stayed in the Rave Green for two seasons, earning over 5,000 minutes across 59 regular season matches. His time in the league briefly overlapped with the fourth name on the list, as young midfielder Hwang In-Beom joined Vancouver in 2019. Kim Moon-Hwan’s brief stint with LAFC from 2021 to 2022 marked the latest South Korean to suit up in MLS; that is, until Sang Bin donned the Black and Blue.
None of the aforementioned players stuck around longer than two seasons. Young-pyo racked up the most gametime, playing 5,717 minutes across 65 games and adding a goal and 10 assists. That makes him the most prolific and longest-tenured Korean in league history, but both titles are due to change.
Though he was just 20 when he joined the league (younger than every other name on the list), Sang Bin is already third on this list in game appearances (55) and fifth in minutes played (3,133). He’s the highest-scoring Korean player in league history (7), and his three assists put him just behind Young-pyo on the goal contribution chart. It may seem crazy to say, but now at just 22 years old, Sang Bin is quickly becoming the most successful Korean player in MLS history.
South Korean Soccer History
You may be asking yourself, “Why does this matter?” Well, let’s keep this history lesson going by turning our gaze across the ocean. South Korea has one of the most talented and successful national teams in Asia, with two Asian Cup titles to their name (1956, 1960) and a long list of incredible players. They’re known for producing hardworking, disciplined athletes with a fight and endurance that makes them an instant asset for any team. This is largely a product of the style played in their own league, as Sang Bin noted.
“In Korea, we’re more focused on defending, whereas MLS is more dynamic in the attack,” Sang Bin said. “It’s a bit slower, meaning that games aren’t as open or back and forth.”
Soccer fans around the globe are familiar with the names of Son Heung-min and Park Ji-sung, both of whom built fantastic careers in the English Premier League and have made incredible contributions to the South Korean National Team. Looking back even further, the likes of Cha Bum-Kun, South Korea’s leading goalscorer (58), starred for multiple German clubs in the 80s, establishing a recruiting pipeline to the German Bundesliga and helping future stars, like Son and Park, to make the jump to playing abroad.
All it takes is one star to open the eyes of an entire league. Now, with two South Korean players playing on the same MLS team for the first time in league history, we could be witnessing the beginning of a new talent pipeline. It’s far too soon to compare Sang Bin or Hoyeon to the legendary names above, but it’s certainly worth watching their progress. The way forward isn’t uncharted, but neither is it a well-worn path just yet. MNUFC’s young pair of Taegeuk Warriors just might be the ones to change that.
