Joo Min-kyu

Joo Min-kyu
Joo in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth (1990-04-13) 13 April 1990
Place of birth Cheongju, South Korea
Height 1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position Striker
Team information
Current team
Daejeon Hana Citizen
Number 10
Youth career
2006 Boin High School
2007–2008 Daeshin High School
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2012 Hanyang University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2013–2014 Goyang Hi 56 (7)
2015–2018 Seoul E-Land 71 (37)
2017–2018 → Sangju Sangmu (draft) 43 (21)
2019 Ulsan Hyundai 28 (5)
2020–2022 Jeju United 89 (47)
2023–2024 Ulsan HD 69 (27)
2025– Daejeon Hana Citizen 52 (16)
International career‡
2015– South Korea 11 (3)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 21 July 2026
‡ National team caps and goals as of 15 July 2025

Joo Min-kyu (Korean: 주민규; born 13 April 1990) is a South Korean football player who play as a striker for Daejeon Hana Citizen and the South Korea national team.[1]

Club career

Goyang Hi

Joo was selected by Goyang Hi in the 2014 K League Challenge draft after graduating from Hanyang University.[2]

Seoul E-Land

On 8 January 2015, Joo moved to Seoul E-Land.

Sangju Sangmu (loan)

On 5 December 2016, Joo was loaned out to Sangju Sangmu.

Ulsan Hyundai

On 4 January 2019, Joo moved to Korean giants, Ulsan Hyundai.

Jeju United

On 6 February 2020, Joo moved to Jeju United. He helped the club to win the 2020 K League 2 thus gaining promotion to the K League 1.

In the next season, Joo was the 2021 K League 1 top scorer with 22 goals helping his club to finished in fourth place. Joo was than named in the K League Best XI in the 2021 and 2022 season.

Return to Ulsan Hyundai

On 4 January 2023, Joo returned to Ulsan Hyundai. He helped the club to win the 2023 K League 1 while finishing as the league joint top scorer with Tiago Orobó (17 goals). He was also named in the K League Best XI for the third consecutive time.

Daejeon Hana Citizen

On 6 January 2025, Joo signed to fellow K League 1 club, Daejeon Hana Citizen for 2025 season.

International career

Joo made his debut for the South Korea national team on 21 March 2024 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Thailand in a 3−0 win at the Rajamangala Stadium.[3] On 6 June 2024, He recorded a hat-trick of assists and scoring his first goal for South Korea in a 7–0 thrashing win against Singapore at the Singapore National Stadium.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 21 July 2026.
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League Korean FA Cup Asia Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goyang Hi 2013 K League 2 26220——282
2014 30510——315
Total 56730——597
Seoul E-Land 2015 K League 2 392322—1[a]04225
2016 291410——3014
2018 3000——30
Total 713732—107539
Sangju Sangmu (draft) 2017 K League 1 321710—2[a]03517
2018 11400——114
Total 432110—204621
Ulsan Hyundai 2019 K League 1 285104[b]1—336
Jeju United 2020 K League 2 18800——188
2021 K League 1 342200——3422
2022 371722——3919
Total 894722——9149
Ulsan HD 2023 K League 1 3617203[b]0—4117
2024 33104111[b]4—4815
Total 692761144—8932
Daejeon Hana Citizen 2025 K League 1 341411——3515
2026 18200001[c]0192
Total 52161100105417
Career total 40816017618540447171
  1. 1 2 Appearances in K League promotion-relegation play-offs
  2. 1 2 3 Appearances in AFC Champions League (Elite)
  3. ↑ Appearance in K League Super Cup

International

Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first.[4]
List of international goals scored by Joo Min-kyu
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
16 June 2024National Stadium, Kallang, Singapore Singapore2–07–02026 FIFA World Cup qualification
210 September 2024Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex, Muscat, Oman Oman3–13–12026 FIFA World Cup qualification
37 July 2025Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea China2–03–02025 EAFF Championship

Honours

Jeju United

Ulsan HD

Individual

References

  1. ↑ Joo Min-kyu at Soccerway
  2. ↑ '저니맨' 이광재와 '새내기' 주민규, 고양서 설욕 노린다 (in Korean). Sportal Korea. 17 February 2013. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 15 August 2014.
  3. ↑ "South Korea v Thailand game report". ESPN. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 23 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Joo, Min-kyu". National Football Teams. Archived from the original on 10 June 2024. Retrieved 6 June 2024.