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| Park Seong-hyun / Photo courtesy of Gwangju FC |
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu] Gwangju FC’s semi-pro player Park Seong-hyun, 16, set a new record as the youngest player to appear in a K League match.
On April 4 at Gangneung High1 Arena, Park came on as a substitute in Round 6 of the 2026 Hana Bank K League 1, entering the field at 16 years, 8 months and 17 days. The appearance is both the club’s youngest and the youngest across K League 1 and K League 2 since the promotion and relegation system began in 2012.
The previous mark was set this year by An Ju-wan of Seoul E-Land FC at 16 years, 11 months and 7 days. The youngest appearance specifically in K League 1 had been Kim Yun-ho’s 17 years, 4 months and 17 days in 2024, when he became his club’s first semi-pro signing. The all-time youngest in K League history remains Han Dong-won’s 16 years and 25 days for Anyang LG in 2002.
Park, an attacking midfielder, is a promising talent known for a deft touch and bold dribbling. Coaches praise his ability to escape pressure in tight spaces and push play forward, making him effective at sparking creative attacking moves.
He trained regularly with the pro squad during winter camp, earning the staff’s trust and securing a semi-pro contract at just 16.
Gwangju rates Park’s upside highly and expects him to inject fresh energy into the team’s attacking patterns.
[Sports Today reporter Kang Tae-gu sports@stoo.com]
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