Ji So-yun brings wisdom, experience and winning spirit to Korean women's football

Ji So-yun, a Suwon FC Women midfielder, said in a recent interview that she hopes to reach 200 appearances for South Korea before retiring from international football. The 35-year-old has 182 caps and 76 goals, and said she could reach the target next year or the year after. She hopes to play at next year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup in Brazil if her condition allows, and said sustained investment and greater media attention are needed for Korean women’s football to catch up internationally.

Ji made her national-team debut in 2006 at age 15 and has competed in six Asian Games.

She said South Korea’s 1-0 win over China at the Asian Games gave players confidence ahead of further matches, including qualifying for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Ji said the gap between Korean women’s football and the rest of the world has widened over the past four or five years and could take at least 10 years to close.

She cited the English Football Association’s five-year women’s football development plan, including infrastructure expansion, as an example of sustained investment.

Suwon FC Women won the WK League title and secured direct qualification for the championship final scheduled for Nov. 15.

Published Nov 2, 2026 12:00 am KST

Updated Nov 2, 2026 7:50 am KST

Korean women's football legend reflects on 20 years with national team

Ji So-yun of the Korean women's national football team, poses for an interview with Hankook Ilbo at the Suwon Athletes' Village in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, Oct. 14. Korea Times photo by Choi Ju-yeon

"Representing the national team has been an immense honor, both 20 years ago and now."

“I am thinking about retiring after reaching 200 appearances for the national team.”

Ji So-yun, a living legend of Korean women's football, has set a clear target for the final chapter of her international career: reaching 200 games before hanging up her cleats.

The 35-year-old Suwon FC Women midfielder won a bronze medal at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games and is now in her 20th year as a member of the national team. She first donned the Taegeuk mark in 2006 at the age of 15. Since making her Asian Games debut in Doha, Qatar, that year, she has competed in six games, including Guangzhou, China, in 2010, Incheon in 2014, Jakarta-Palembang, Indonesia, in 2018, Hangzhou, China, in 2022 and this year's tournament.

In a recent interview with Hankook Ilbo at the Suwon Athletes' Tillage, Ji spoke candidly about her retirement plans.

“I think I could reach 200 appearances sometime next year or the year after,” she said.

Ji holds the Korean record for most appearances and goals in international matches, with 182 caps and 76 goals. On the men's side, Son Heung-min (151 caps, 59 goals) surpassed former national team coach Cha Bum-kun's previous scoring record of 58 goals on Oct. 6. Ji, however, had already reached the 59-goal mark five years earlier, in September 2021, during a 2022 AFC Women's Asian Cup qualifying match against Mongolia.

She has continued to make Korean football history every time she takes the field for the national team.

“If my body remains in its current condition, I would also like to play at next year's FIFA Women's World Cup in Brazil. My goal in life is to finish my national team career on a high note,” she said.

The next Asian Games are scheduled to be held in Doha, Qatar, where Ji made her Asian Games debut. If the tournament goes ahead as planned in 2030, she will be 39.

“If I get selected, I'll give it a go. Representing the national team has been an immense honor, both 20 years ago and now,” she said.

Below are excerpts from the interview.

Korean women's national football team member Ji So-yun takes a shot during the first group-stage match against Myanmar at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, held at Yanmar Stadium Nagai in Osaka, Japan, Sept. 14. Yonhap

Q. You have just completed your sixth Asian Games. How do you feel?

The color of the medal wasn't what we initially hoped for, but I was very happy that we beat China, a formidable opponent, for the first time in the 11 years since the 2015 EAFF East Asian Cup. I think the players gained confidence from that 1-0 victory, especially with more matches against China coming up — including the qualifying campaign for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Q. You created several scoring opportunities against China, but your teammates were unable to convert them. Was that frustrating?

I actually tend to shout at my teammates quite a lot. When opportunities come, they need to take them. Scoring gives players the confidence and energy to keep going, so I push my teammates to stay focused and make the most of their chances.

Q. Do the younger players listen to you?

Of course. If they don't want to listen to me, they should come back after playing at least 150 international matches themselves. I've played in many international tournaments and spent nine years in England with Chelsea Women, so my teammates recognize that experience. The younger players take what I say seriously, but they also speak their minds when they have something to say.

Q. Are there any younger players with whom you have particularly good chemistry? Yoon Soo-jung has stood out for both Suwon FC and the national team.

Yoon Soo-jung (24, Suwon FC Women) wouldn't have survived without us. At the club, she's surrounded by three senior players: me, Kim Hye-ri and Kwon Eun-som. If she makes even one mistake, she gets an earful from the veterans. But Yoon has a good personality. She quickly moves on from things she needs to forget and learns from her seniors when there's something to be learned. She's adorable when she's playing well, but when she's not, I end up shouting at her again. Still, she's developing well. We need more players like her if Korean women's football is to continue improving.

Q. You have competed in six Asian Games. Would you consider playing in one more?

I'll be 39 by then. I haven't really thought that far ahead. As for next year's World Cup in Brazil, I think I could play if my body stays in its current condition. If coach Shin Sang-woo selects me, I'll be grateful for the opportunity and go. If I continue doing what I've been doing, I believe the younger players will follow my lead.

Ji So-yun, a member of Korea’s women’s national football team at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games, speaks with reporters during an interview at Korea Football Park in Cheonan, South Chungcheong Province, Sept.7. Yonhap

Q. Do you think Korean women's football can catch up with the rest of the world? It seems like a difficult task.

Honestly, the gap has become enormous. Women's football around the world is developing at an incredible pace, and I think the difference has grown even more over the past four or five years. It could take at least 10 years for us to catch up.

The English Football Association invested heavily in women's football through a five-year development plan, including expanding infrastructure. As a result, matches involving professional women's teams such as Chelsea, Arsenal and Manchester City, where I used to play, started attracting quite a few spectators. Ultimately, investment is what creates returns. I also hope to see the media paying more attention to women's football.

Q. In August, there was controversy over a referee's "girls' day" remark during a league match.

I could hear the referees talking and laughing among themselves at the time. If younger players, such as high school or university students, had heard those comments, they probably wouldn't have been able to say anything. Fortunately, I spent a long time playing overseas and I am also president of the Korea Professional Football Players' Association, so I couldn't just stay silent. I think the referee assumed that showing me a yellow card would make me quiet. But I protested because I didn't want anything like that to happen to other players again. At the same time, I understand that referees are human and can make mistakes. Still, I didn't feel comfortable seeing that referee seemingly subjected to a witch hunt.

Q. Will next year's World Cup be your last dance with the national team?

I think next year's World Cup will effectively be my last. Kim Hye-ri (36, Suwon FC Women) and I are probably more eager than anyone to make it happen. Korea's best-ever result at a Women's World Cup was reaching the round of 16 at the 2015 tournament in Canada. That was already 11 years ago. Women's football around the world is developing so quickly that even winning one match at the World Cup is becoming increasingly difficult.

Chelsea's Ji So-yun, center, celebrates with teammates after winning the Women's FA Cup final match between Chelsea and Manchester City, at Wembley Stadium, London, Sunday, May 15, 2022. AP-Yonhap

Q. Lionel Messi once reversed his decision to retire from international football. Could you do the same?

I watched Messi play his farewell match for Argentina against Benin. I know that day will eventually come for me, too, and it made me feel very sad. We've been fortunate to live in an era with players like Messi and Ronaldo. They have given us so much happiness. I didn't want that day to come for Messi, but eventually it did. Watching him cry and express his sadness made me feel as though it could happen to me. It didn't feel like someone else's story.

Q. You have played in six Asian Games, three World Cups and spent nine years in England with clubs including Chelsea. Can Korean women's football catch up with the rest of the world?

Honestly, the gap is now enormous. When I was playing for Chelsea (2014-22), things weren't like this. The difference has widened dramatically over the past four or five years. I think it will take at least ten years for us to catch up. We need sustained investment, taking inspiration from the FA's five-year plan to develop women's football in England. The media also needs to show more interest. When I played for Chelsea, even matches in England weren't broadcast on television. These days, they are.

Ji So-yun of Suwon FC Women sheds tears after losing to North Korea's Naegohyang Women's Football Club in the AFC Women's Champions League semifinal at Suwon World Cup Stadium in Suwon, Gyeonggi Province, May 20. Korea Times photo by Choi Joo-yeon

Q. You have played for the national team for 20 years but have never served as captain. Why is that?

I talk enough and take charge without wearing the armband . The coaches rarely asked me to be captain, either. I speak up to younger players without needing the captain's armband, and Kim Hye-ri does an excellent job as captain. I don't intend to take on that role with the national team in the future, either. At my club, however, I am currently the captain. Even there, I delegate responsibilities to the players just below me, telling them things like, "You take care of this" or "Make sure you teach the younger players that." I need my teammates to help out. A captain already has so much to think about.

Q. Earlier this year, you spoke out on behalf of the women's national team players, calling for better treatment and conditions. You also faced criticism.

Honestly, if I don't speak up, who will? I was disappointed that the issue was reduced to headlines about business class flights. But if we don't raise these issues, nobody will listen. I want younger players to train and compete in better conditions than I had. I knew I might face criticism when I spoke out, and I'm prepared to take it. If people are going to criticize someone, they can criticize me. Still, seeing things gradually change and improve has made me feel that speaking up was the right thing to do.

Son Heung-Min of Los Angeles FC gestures during the MLS match between Los Angeles Football Club and LA Galaxy at BMO Stadium on Oct. 25, 2026 in Los Angeles. AFP-Yonhap

Q. How do you view the recent turmoil surrounding the men's national team?

It's unfortunate, if the media reports are true. I felt particularly sorry for Son Heung-min. For a team to become a united group, players need to follow their captain, and the senior players in the middle need to guide the younger ones. If Argentina has Messi, Korea has Son Heung-min. Son is truly a great player. I hope the younger players can follow his lead and move forward together. Unity among the senior players is crucial. The younger players watch and learn from everything the older players do. That's why it matters so much.

Q. You have competed in many tournaments this year. Has it been a satisfying season?

Suwon FC Women won the WK League title and secured direct qualification for the championship final on Nov. 15. We also recently won the National Sports Festival. I want to win the final of the W Korea Cup on Nov. 21 and become the inaugural champions of the competition. Above all, I hope to finish the year without any injuries.

This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.

水原FC女足中场球员池笑然在最近的一次采访中表示，她希望在从国际足坛退役前能够代表韩国国家队出场200次。这位35岁的球员目前已代表韩国队出场182次，攻入76球。她表示，自己有望在明年或后年实现这一目标。如果身体条件允许，她希望能够参加明年在巴西举行的国际女足世界杯。她还指出，韩国女足需要持续的投资和更多的媒体关注才能在国际上迎头赶上。

池在2006年15岁时首次代表国家队出战，并参加过六届亚运会。

她表示，韩国队在亚运会上以 1-0 战胜中国队，这让队员们对接下来的比赛充满信心，包括争取获得 2028 年洛杉矶奥运会的参赛资格。

池表示，过去四五年里，韩国女足与世界其他地区的差距不断扩大，至少需要 10 年才能缩小差距。

她以英格兰足球协会的五年女子足球发展计划（包括基础设施扩建）为例，说明持续投资的重要性。

水原FC女足赢得了WK联赛冠军，并直接晋级定于11月15日举行的总决赛。

发布于2026年11月2日凌晨12:00（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年11月2日上午7:50（韩国标准时间）

韩国女足传奇人物回顾了她为国家队效力的20年

10月14日，韩国女足国家队队员池昭允在京畿道水原市水原运动员村接受《韩国日报》采访。韩国时报崔珠妍摄

“无论是20年前还是现在，能够代表国家队出战都是莫大的荣幸。”

“我正在考虑在为国家队出场200次后退役。”

韩国女足的传奇人物池笑然为她国际职业生涯的最后阶段设定了一个明确的目标：在退役前达到 200 场比赛的里程碑。

这位35岁的水原FC女足中场球员曾在2026年爱知-名古屋亚运会上获得铜牌，如今已是她代表国家队出战的第20个年头。她于2006年首次代表国家队出战，当时年仅15岁。自那年在卡塔尔多哈完成亚运会首秀以来，她已参加了六届亚运会，包括2010年中国广州亚运会、2014年仁川亚运会、2018年印尼雅加达-巨港亚运会、2022年中国杭州亚运会以及今年的亚运会。

在最近接受《韩国日报》在水原运动员训练营的采访时，池直人坦率地谈到了她的退役计划。

“我认为明年或后年我可能会达到200场演出，”她说。

池昌旭保持着韩国女足国家队出场次数和进球数的纪录，共出场182次，打入76球。男足方面，孙兴慜（151次出场，59球）于10月6日超越了前国家队主教练车范根保持的58球的进球纪录。不过，池昌旭早在五年前的2021年9月，在2022年亚洲杯女足预选赛对阵蒙古的比赛中就已经打入了59球。

她每次代表国家队上场比赛，都在不断创造韩国足球的历史。

“如果我的身体状况保持现状，我也希望能够参加明年在巴西举行的国际足联女足世界杯。我的人生目标是为我的国家队生涯画上一个完美的句号，”她说道。

下一届亚运会计划在卡塔尔多哈举行，吉也是在那里首次亮相亚运会。如果2030年亚运会如期举行，届时她将39岁。

“如果我被选中，我会全力以赴。无论是20年前还是现在，能够代表国家队出战都是莫大的荣幸，”她说。

以下是采访节选。

9月14日，在位于日本大阪长井的洋马体育场举行的2026年爱知-名古屋亚运会小组赛首场对阵缅甸的比赛中，韩国女足队员池笑然射门。（韩联社）

问：您刚刚结束了第六届亚运会，感觉如何？

奖牌的颜色并非我们最初所期望的，但我很高兴我们战胜了强大的中国队，这是自2015年东亚足球锦标赛以来，11年来我们首次战胜中国队。我认为这场1比0的胜利极大地增强了球员们的信心，尤其是在接下来还要与中国队进行更多比赛的情况下——包括2028年洛杉矶奥运会的预选赛。

问：你对阵中国队时创造了多次得分机会，但你的队友都没能把握住。这让你感到沮丧吗？

我其实经常对队友大声喊叫。机会来了，他们就必须把握住。进球能给球员带来信心和能量，让他们继续前进，所以我督促队友保持专注，充分把握住每一次机会。

问：年轻球员会听你的话吗？

当然。如果她们不想听我的，那就等她们自己至少踢过150场国际比赛再回来。我参加过很多国际赛事，还在英格兰的切尔西女足效力了九年，所以我的队友们都认可我的经验。年轻球员们会认真听取我的意见，但她们也有自己的想法，会直言不讳地表达出来。

问：你和队里有没有哪些年轻球员的配合特别好？尹秀晶在水原FC和国家队都表现出色。

如果没有我们，尹秀晶（24岁，水原FC女足）恐怕难以走到今天。在俱乐部里，她身边围绕着三位经验丰富的老队员：我、金惠利和权恩燮。如果她犯了哪怕一个错误，都会被老队员们狠狠地批评一番。但尹秀晶性格很好。她能很快忘记不该忘记的事情，并且会在需要学习的时候向老队员们学习。她状态好的时候很可爱，但状态不好的时候，我又得对她大吼大叫。尽管如此，她的进步依然非常显著。如果韩国女足想要继续进步，我们需要更多像她这样的球员。

问：您已经参加过六届亚运会了。您会考虑再参加一届吗？

到那时我就39岁了。我还没想过那么远。至于明年在巴西举行的世界杯，如果我的身体状况保持现状，我想我应该可以参赛。如果申相佑教练选中我，我会非常感激这个机会，并全力以赴。如果我能继续保持现在的状态，我相信年轻球员们会以我为榜样。

2026年爱知-名古屋亚运会韩国女足国家队队员池昭允9月7日在忠清南道天安市韩国足球公园接受记者采访。（韩联社）

问：你认为韩国女足能赶上世界其他地区吗？这似乎是一项艰巨的任务。

说实话，差距已经变得非常巨大。世界各地的女子足球发展速度惊人，而且我认为过去四五年里，这种差距甚至进一步扩大了。我们可能至少需要十年时间才能赶上。

英格兰足球总会通过一项为期五年的发展计划，对女子足球进行了大量投资，包括扩建基础设施。因此，像切尔西、阿森纳和我曾经效力过的曼城这样的职业女足球队的比赛开始吸引不少观众。归根结底，投资才能带来回报。我也希望媒体能够更加关注女子足球。

问：8月份，一名裁判在联赛比赛中发表了关于“女子日”的言论，引发了争议。

当时我能听到裁判们在​​窃窃私语，甚至有笑声。如果换成更年轻的球员，比如高中生或大学生，听到这些话，他们可能就不敢吭声了。幸好我曾在海外踢过很长时间的球，而且我还是韩国职业足球运动员协会的会长，所以我不能保持沉默。我想裁判以为给我一张黄牌就能让我闭嘴。但我还是提出了抗议，因为我不想让其他球员再经历类似的事情。同时，我也理解裁判也是人，也会犯错。但是，看到那位裁判似乎遭到如此“猎巫”，我还是感到很不舒服。

问：明年的世界杯会是你代表国家队的最后一场比赛吗？

我认为明年的世界杯将是我最后一届了。我和金惠利（36岁，水原FC女足）可能比任何人都更渴望实现这个目标。韩国女足在世界杯上的最佳战绩是2015年加拿大世界杯打入16强。那已经是11年前的事了。世界女足发展如此迅速，以至于即使在世界杯上赢一场比赛也变得越来越难。

2022年5月15日星期日，在伦敦温布利球场举行的女子足总杯决赛中，切尔西队战胜曼城队后，切尔西球员池笑然（中）与队友庆祝胜利。（美联社-韩联社）

问：莱昂内尔·梅西曾一度改变主意，决定退出国家队。你也能做到吗？

我观看了梅西代表阿根廷对阵贝宁的告别赛。我知道那一天终有一天也会降临到我身上，这让我感到非常难过。我们很幸运能生活在拥有梅西和C罗这样球员的时代。他们带给我们太多的快乐。我不希望梅西的告别之日到来，但最终还是发生了。看着他哭泣，看着他流露出悲伤，我感觉自己也可能面临同样的命运。这感觉不像是别人的故事。

问：您参加过六届亚运会、三届世界杯，并在英格兰的切尔西等俱乐部效力过九年。韩国女足能否赶上世界其他地区的水平？

说实话，现在的差距太大了。我效力切尔西的时候（2014-2022年），情况可不是这样。过去四五年里，差距急剧扩大。我认为我们至少需要十年才能赶上。我们需要持续的投资，可以借鉴英足总五年发展英格兰女子足球的计划。媒体也需要给予更多关注。我效力切尔西的时候，就连英格兰的比赛都不在电视上转播。现在，电视上都播了。

5月20日，在京畿道水原市水原世界杯体育场举行的亚足联女子冠军联赛半决赛中，水原FC女足负于朝鲜内乡女足后，水原FC女足队员池素允泪流满面。（韩国时报 崔珠妍 摄）

问：您为国家队效力了20年，但从未担任过队长。这是为什么？

即使不戴队长袖标，我也能充分表达自己的想法并承担责任。教练也很少让我当队长。我无需队长袖标也能指导年轻球员，而金惠利作为队长也做得非常出色。我也不打算将来在国家队担任队长。不过，在俱乐部，我目前是队长。即使在那里，我也会把一些职责分配给下属球员，比如告诉他们“你负责这个”或者“一定要教教年轻球员”。我需要队友的帮助。队长要考虑的事情已经够多了。

问：今年早些时候，您曾代表女足国家队队员发声，呼吁改善她们的待遇和条件。您也因此受到批评。

说实话，如果我不发声，谁会发声？我很失望，这件事最终只被简化成了关于商务舱航班的新闻。但如果我们不提出这些问题，就没人会听。我希望年轻球员能在比我当年更好的条件下训练和比赛。我知道发声后可能会遭到批评，我也做好了承受批评的准备。如果有人要批评别人，他们也可以批评我。不过，看到情况逐渐好转，让我觉得当初发声是正确的。

2026年10月25日，在洛杉矶BMO体育场举行的美国职业足球大联盟（MLS）洛杉矶足球俱乐部对阵洛杉矶银河队的比赛中，洛杉矶FC球员孙兴慜做出手势。（法新社/韩联社）

问：您如何看待最近围绕男足国家队的动荡局势？

如果媒体报道属实，那真是太遗憾了。我尤其为孙兴慜感到惋惜。一支球队要想团结一致，球员们需要听从队长的指挥，中层老队员需要指导年轻队员。如果说阿根廷有梅西，那么韩国就有孙兴慜。孙兴慜确实是一位伟大的球员。我希望年轻队员们能够以他为榜样，携手并进。老队员之间的团结至关重要。年轻队员会观察并学习老队员的一言一行。正因如此，老队员的团结才显得如此重要。

问：你今年参加了许多比赛。这个赛季你觉得满意吗？

水原FC女足赢得了WK联赛冠军，并直接晋级11月15日举行的总决赛。我们最近还赢得了全国运动会的冠军。我希望能在11月21日赢得W韩国杯的决赛，成为这项赛事的首届冠军。最重要的是，我希望今年能够保持健康，没有伤病困扰。

本文来自《韩国日报》（《韩国时报》的姊妹报），由人工智能生成系统翻译，并由《韩国时报》编辑。