The Korea Herald

피터빈트

Former South Korea int'l Kim Bo-kyung joins reigning league champion

By Shin Ji-hye

Published : Jan. 3, 2016 - 10:54

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Former national team midfielder Kim Bo-kyung has signed with the two-time defending South Korean league champion.

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors of the first-division K League Classic announced Sunday they've acquired the 26-year-old midfielder.

Financial terms of the move were not disclosed.

Once tapped by former Manchester United midfielder Park Ji-sung as one of the country's future stars, Kim represented South Korea at each of the past two FIFA World Cups, and also at the 2010 Asian Games and the 2012 Summer Olympics. He has had a journeyman-like international career since signing with Cerezo Osaka in Japan in 2010. He was immediately loaned to Oita Trinita, another Japanese side, for one season, and returned to Cerezo Osaka before playing for Cardiff City for parts of three seasons. The Welsh club earned a promotion to the Premier League for the 2013-2014 season, making Kim the 12th South Korean to play in the Premiership.

He then had a brief stint with second-division club Wigan Athletic and the top-flight Japanese club Matsumoto Yamaga, with whom he made six appearances last year with no goals.

Jeonbuk, which won each of the past two K League Classic titles, will be Kim's first club in his native land.

"I am pleased to be joining the best team in the league," Kim said through the club. "I am looking forward to competing with the best players."

Jeonbuk said Kim's versatility and his ability to cover a lot of ground should boost the team's offense in midfield. (Yonhap)