HONG Myong-Bo
| Date of birth | 12 February 1969 |
| Place of birth | Seoul |
| Nationality | Korean (KOR) |
| Weight | 73 kg |
| Height | 1.81 m |
| Position | Defender |
A long standing veteran of three World Cup campaigns, the 2002 competition looks as though it may be his last. He left the domestic league to play in Japan for Kashiwa Reysol before returning. He missed much of the warm up matches leading up to the competition as a serious injury ruled him out. A return to fitness led to a recall into the squad and his great experience is sure to be used at the finals. He is excellent in the air and his distribution from the back is exceptional. He is likely to be the starting sweeper and he is the most capped South Korean player of all time.
The Republic's captain scored the winning penalty in the shoot-out with Spain in Gwangju which meant Korea had become the first Asian country to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup.
He played in all seven of Korea's games in the 2002 World Cup finals and was third in the Golden Ball awards for the tournament's best player as well as being selected for FIFA's All-Star squad.
Club history
| Team | Joined | Left | Loan / Trialist |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pohang Steelers | |||
| Bellmare Hiratsuka | |||
| Kashiwa Reysol | |||
| LA Galaxy | 04 Nov 2002 |
Club stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995-96 | Rest of the World | Representative | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
Club matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 Aug 1995 | Americas v Rest of the World | L | 5-1 | Representative | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International stats
| Season | Team | Competition | Apps | Subs | Goals | Y | R |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1989-90 | Korea Republic | FIFA World Cup | 3 | ||||
| 1989-90 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 1 | ||||
| 1989-90 | Korea Republic | Rothmans Tournament | 2 | ||||
| 1990-91 | Korea Republic | Asian Games | 6 | 1 |
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| 1990-91 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 3 | ||||
| 1990-91 | Korea Republic | Marlboro Dynasty Cup | 3 | 1 |
1
|
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| 1990-91 | Korea Republic | President`s Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1990-91 | Korea Republic | Reunification Match | 1 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Korea Republic | Dynasty Cup | 3 | 1 |
1
|
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| 1992-93 | Korea Republic | FIFA World Cup | 7 | 1 |
1
|
||
| 1992-93 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 1992-93 | Korea Republic | President`s Cup | 4 | ||||
| 1993-94 | Korea Republic | Asian Games | 3 | ||||
| 1993-94 | Korea Republic | FIFA World Cup | 8 | 3 |
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| 1993-94 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 5 | 2 |
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| 1994-95 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 3 | 1 |
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| 1994-95 | Korea Republic | Kirin Japan Cup | 2 |
1
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| 1994-95 | Korea Republic | Marlboro Dynasty Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Korea Republic | AFC Asian Cup | 5 | 2 |
1 |
||
| 1995-96 | Korea Republic | Friendship Tounament (UAE) | 3 | ||||
| 1995-96 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 5 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Korea Republic | FIFA World Cup | 1 | ||||
| 1996-97 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 1 |
1
|
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| 1996-97 | Korea Republic | Korea v China Annual Match | 2 |
1
|
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| 1996-97 | Korea Republic | Optus World Series | 2 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Korea Republic | Dynasty Cup | 2 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Korea Republic | FIFA World Cup | 10 |
1
|
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| 1997-98 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 2 | 1 |
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| 1997-98 | Korea Republic | Korea v China Annual Match | 2 | ||||
| 1997-98 | Korea Republic | Nike World Tour | 1 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 2 | ||||
| 1998-99 | Korea Republic | Korea Cup | 3 |
1
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| 1999-00 | Korea Republic | AFC Asian Cup | 5 |
1
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| 1999-00 | Korea Republic | Annual Match | 1 | ||||
| 1999-00 | Korea Republic | CONCACAF Gold Cup | 2 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Korea Republic | FIFA Confederations Cup | 3 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Korea Republic | Friendship Tounament (UAE) | 4 | ||||
| 2000-01 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 2 |
1
|
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| 2000-01 | Korea Republic | New Year Tournament | 2 |
1
|
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| 2001-02 | Korea Republic | FIFA World Cup | 7 |
1
|
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| 2001-02 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 8 | ||||
| 2002-03 | Korea Republic | International Friendly | 1 |
Please note: Career stats are based on performances in the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.
International matches
| Date | Match | Result | Competition | Round | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04 Feb 1990 | Norway v Korea Republic | L | 3-2 | ROTHMANS TOURNAMENT | |
| 10 Feb 1990 | Malta v Korea Republic | W | 1-2 | ROTHMANS TOURNAMENT | |
| 15 Feb 1990 | Iraq v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Jun 1990 | Belgium v Korea Republic | L | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group E |
| 17 Jun 1990 | Korea Republic v Spain | L | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group E |
| 21 Jun 1990 | Korea Republic v Uruguay | L | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group E |
| 27 Jul 1990 | Korea Republic v Japan | W | 2-0 | MARLBORO DYNASTY CUP | |
| 31 Jul 1990 | China PR v Korea Republic | W | 0-1 | MARLBORO DYNASTY CUP | |
| 03 Aug 1990 | China PR v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | Marlboro Dynasty Cup | Final |
| 06 Sep 1990 | Korea Republic v Australia | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 09 Sep 1990 | Korea Republic v Australia | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 23 Sep 1990 | Korea Republic v Singapore | W | 7-0 | Asian Games | A |
| 25 Sep 1990 | Pakistan v Korea Republic | W | 0-7 | Asian Games | A |
| 27 Sep 1990 | China PR v Korea Republic | W | 0-2 | Asian Games | A |
| 01 Oct 1990 | Korea Republic v Kuwait | W | 1-0 | Asian Games | Quarter-final |
| 03 Oct 1990 | Korea Republic v Iran | L | 0-1 | Asian Games | Semi-final |
| 05 Oct 1990 | Korea Republic v Thailand | W | 1-0 | Asian Games | 3rd place |
| 11 Oct 1990 | Korea DPR v Korea Republic | L | 2-1 | REUNIFICATION MATCH | |
| 23 Oct 1990 | Korea Republic v Korea DPR | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 09 Jun 1991 | Korea Republic v Indonesia | W | 3-0 | PRESIDENTS CUP | A |
| 22 Aug 1992 | Japan v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | DYNASTY CUP | |
| 24 Aug 1992 | Korea DPR v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | DYNASTY CUP | |
| 26 Aug 1992 | China PR v Korea Republic | W | 0-2 | DYNASTY CUP | |
| 25 Apr 1993 | Korea Republic v Iraq | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 28 Apr 1993 | Korea Republic v Iraq | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 09 May 1993 | Korea Republic v Bahrain | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 11 May 1993 | Lebanon v Korea Republic | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 13 May 1993 | India v Korea Republic | W | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 15 May 1993 | Hong Kong v Korea Republic | W | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 05 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v Hong Kong | W | 4-1 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 07 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v Lebanon | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 13 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v Bahrain | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia group D |
| 19 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v Egypt | L | 1-2 | PRESIDENTS CUP | Group A |
| 23 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v China PR | W | 3-0 | PRESIDENTS CUP | |
| 26 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v Czechoslovakia (rcs) | W | 1-0 | PRESIDENTS CUP | |
| 28 Jun 1993 | Korea Republic v Egypt | L | 0-1 | PRESIDENTS CUP | Final |
| 26 Sep 1993 | Korea Republic v Australia | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 16 Oct 1993 | Iran v Korea Republic | W | 0-3 | FIFA World Cup | Asia final round |
| 19 Oct 1993 | Iraq v Korea Republic | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | Asia final round |
| 22 Oct 1993 | Korea Republic v Saudi Arabia | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Asia final round |
| 25 Oct 1993 | Japan v Korea Republic | L | 1-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia final round |
| 28 Oct 1993 | Korea Republic v Korea DPR | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia final round |
| 26 Feb 1994 | Colombia v Korea Republic | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 04 May 1994 | Ecuador v Korea Republic | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Jun 1994 | Ecuador v Korea Republic | L | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 11 Jun 1994 | Korea Republic v Honduras | W | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 17 Jun 1994 | Spain v Korea Republic | D | 2-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group C |
| 23 Jun 1994 | Korea Republic v Bolivia | D | 0-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group C |
| 27 Jun 1994 | Germany v Korea Republic | L | 3-2 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group C |
| 11 Sep 1994 | Korea Republic v Ukraine | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 13 Sep 1994 | Korea Republic v Ukraine | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 19 Sep 1994 | Korea Republic v United Arab Emirates | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Oct 1994 | Korea Republic v Oman | W | 2-1 | Asian Games | Group C |
| 07 Oct 1994 | Korea Republic v Kuwait | L | 0-1 | Asian Games | Group C |
| 11 Oct 1994 | Japan v Korea Republic | W | 2-3 | Asian Games | Quarter-final |
| 19 Feb 1995 | China PR v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | MARLBORO DYNASTY CUP | |
| 05 Jun 1995 | Korea Republic v Costa Rica | W | 1-0 | KIRIN JAPAN CUP | |
| 10 Jun 1995 | Korea Republic v Zambia | L | 2-3 | KIRIN JAPAN CUP | |
| 12 Aug 1995 | Korea Republic v Brazil | L | 0-1 | International Friendly | |
| 31 Oct 1995 | Korea Republic v Saudi Arabia | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 13 Mar 1996 | Croatia v Korea Republic | L | 3-0 | International Friendly | |
| 19 Mar 1996 | United Arab Emirates v Korea Republic | L | 3-2 | FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (UAE) | |
| 23 Mar 1996 | Morocco v Korea Republic | D | 2-2 | FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (UAE) | |
| 25 Mar 1996 | Korea Republic v Egypt | D | 1-1 | FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (UAE) | |
| 30 Apr 1996 | Israel v Korea Republic | W | 4-5 | International Friendly | |
| 16 May 1996 | Korea Republic v Sweden | L | 0-2 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Aug 1996 | Korea Republic v Guam | W | 9-0 | AFC Asian Cup | Group 1 |
| 08 Aug 1996 | Korea Republic v Taiwan | W | 4-0 | AFC Asian Cup | Group 1 |
| 11 Aug 1996 | Vietnam v Korea Republic | W | 0-4 | AFC Asian Cup | PRE group 1 |
| 25 Sep 1996 | Korea Republic v China PR | W | 3-1 | KOREA v CHINA ANNUAL MATCH | 1st leg |
| 23 Nov 1996 | Korea Republic v Colombia | W | 4-1 | International Friendly | |
| 26 Nov 1996 | China PR v Korea Republic | W | 2-3 | KOREA v CHINA ANNUAL MATCH | 2nd leg |
| 04 Dec 1996 | United Arab Emirates v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | AFC Asian Cup | Group A |
| 07 Dec 1996 | Indonesia v Korea Republic | W | 2-4 | AFC Asian Cup | Group A |
| 11 Dec 1996 | Kuwait v Korea Republic | L | 2-0 | AFC Asian Cup | Group A |
| 16 Dec 1996 | Iran v Korea Republic | L | 6-2 | AFC Asian Cup | Quarter-final |
| 18 Jan 1997 | Korea Republic v Norway | W | 1-0 | OPTUS World Series | |
| 22 Jan 1997 | Australia v Korea Republic | L | 2-1 | OPTUS World Series | |
| 02 Mar 1997 | Thailand v Korea Republic | W | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 1st round group 6 |
| 10 Aug 1997 | Korea Republic v Brazil | L | 1-2 | Nike World Tour | |
| 30 Aug 1997 | Korea Republic v China PR | D | 0-0 | KOREA v CHINA ANNUAL MATCH | 2nd leg |
| 06 Sep 1997 | Korea Republic v Kazakhstan | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 12 Sep 1997 | Korea Republic v Uzbekistan | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 28 Sep 1997 | Japan v Korea Republic | W | 1-2 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 04 Oct 1997 | Korea Republic v United Arab Emirates | W | 3-0 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 11 Oct 1997 | Kazakhstan v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 18 Oct 1997 | Uzbekistan v Korea Republic | W | 1-5 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 09 Nov 1997 | United Arab Emirates v Korea Republic | W | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Asia 2nd round group B |
| 04 Mar 1998 | Korea Republic v China PR | W | 2-1 | DYNASTY CUP | |
| 07 Mar 1998 | Korea Republic v Hong Kong | W | 1-0 | DYNASTY CUP | |
| 01 Apr 1998 | Korea Republic v Japan | W | 2-1 | International Friendly | |
| 18 May 1998 | Korea Republic v Jamaica | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 27 May 1998 | Korea Republic v Czech Republic | D | 2-2 | International Friendly | |
| 04 Jun 1998 | Korea Republic v China PR | D | 1-1 | KOREA v CHINA ANNUAL MATCH | 1st leg |
| 13 Jun 1998 | Korea Republic v Mexico | L | 1-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group E |
| 20 Jun 1998 | Netherlands v Korea Republic | L | 5-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group E |
| 25 Jun 1998 | Belgium v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals group E |
| 28 Mar 1999 | Korea Republic v Brazil | W | 1-0 | International Friendly | |
| 05 Jun 1999 | Korea Republic v Belgium | L | 1-2 | International Friendly | |
| 12 Jun 1999 | Korea Republic v Mexico | D | 1-1 | Korea Cup | |
| 15 Jun 1999 | Korea Republic v Egypt | D | 0-0 | KOREA CUP | |
| 19 Jun 1999 | Korea Republic v Croatia | D | 1-1 | KOREA CUP | |
| 15 Feb 2000 | Canada v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | CONCACAF Gold Cup | Group D |
| 17 Feb 2000 | Korea Republic v Costa Rica | D | 2-2 | CONCACAF Gold Cup | Group D |
| 26 Apr 2000 | Korea Republic v Japan | W | 1-0 | ANNUAL MATCH | |
| 04 Oct 2000 | United Arab Emirates v Korea Republic | L | 1-1 (2-3) | FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (UAE) | |
| 13 Oct 2000 | Korea Republic v China PR | D | 2-2 | AFC Asian Cup | Group B |
| 19 Oct 2000 | Korea Republic v Indonesia | W | 3-0 | AFC Asian Cup | Group B |
| 23 Oct 2000 | Korea Republic v Iran | W | 2-1 | AFC Asian Cup | Quarter-final |
| 26 Oct 2000 | Korea Republic v Saudi Arabia | L | 1-2 | AFC Asian Cup | Semi-final |
| 29 Oct 2000 | Korea Republic v China PR | W | 1-0 | AFC Asian Cup | 3rd place |
| 20 Dec 2000 | Japan v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 24 Jan 2001 | Korea Republic v Norway | L | 2-3 | NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT | |
| 27 Jan 2001 | Korea Republic v Paraguay | W | 1-1 (6-5) | NEW YEAR TOURNAMENT | 3rd place |
| 08 Feb 2001 | Morocco v Korea Republic | D | 1-1 | Friendship Tounament (UAE) | |
| 11 Feb 2001 | United Arab Emirates v Korea Republic | W | 1-4 | FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (UAE) | |
| 14 Feb 2001 | Denmark v Korea Republic | L | 2-0 | FRIENDSHIP TOURNAMENT (UAE) | |
| 25 May 2001 | Korea Republic v Cameroon | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 30 May 2001 | Korea Republic v France | L | 0-5 | FIFA Confederations Cup | Group A |
| 01 Jun 2001 | Korea Republic v Mexico | W | 2-1 | FIFA Confederations Cup | Group A |
| 03 Jun 2001 | Korea Republic v Australia | W | 1-0 | FIFA Confederations Cup | Group A |
| 13 Mar 2002 | Tunisia v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 20 Mar 2002 | Finland v Korea Republic | W | 0-2 | International Friendly | |
| 26 Mar 2002 | Turkey v Korea Republic | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 20 Apr 2002 | Korea Republic v Costa Rica | W | 2-0 | International Friendly | |
| 27 Apr 2002 | Korea Republic v China PR | D | 0-0 | International Friendly | |
| 16 May 2002 | Korea Republic v Scotland | W | 4-1 | International Friendly | |
| 21 May 2002 | Korea Republic v England | D | 1-1 | International Friendly | |
| 26 May 2002 | Korea Republic v France | L | 2-3 | International Friendly | |
| 04 Jun 2002 | Korea Republic v Poland | W | 2-0 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group D |
| 10 Jun 2002 | Korea Republic v USA | D | 1-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group D |
| 14 Jun 2002 | Portugal v Korea Republic | W | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals Group D |
| 18 Jun 2002 | Korea Republic v Italy | W | 2-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals 2nd round |
| 22 Jun 2002 | Korea Republic v Spain | W | 0-0 (5-3) | FIFA World Cup | Finals quarter-final |
| 25 Jun 2002 | Korea Republic v Germany | L | 0-1 | FIFA World Cup | Finals semi-final |
| 29 Jun 2002 | Korea Republic v Turkey | L | 2-3 | FIFA World Cup | Finals 3rd place |
| 20 Nov 2002 | Korea Republic v Brazil | L | 2-3 | International Friendly | |
Please note: Match history is complete for the Premier and Football Leagues and (in most cases all) internationals.