KFA has announced the final squad for the 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup that takes place in Uzbekistan from 1 March.

Kim Eunjung’s charges include most of the key players who have established themselves in the national team – captain Lee Seungwon (Gangwon FC), Kang Sungjin (FC Seoul), Bae Junho (Daejeon Hana Citizen) and Lee Youngjun (Gimcheon Sangmu). Amongst the 23 men who made the list, 18 players ply their trade in the K League, four players from university teams, with Kim Yonghak being the only one based overseas (Portimonense SC) in Portugal.

Having trained in Spain earlier this month, the U-20 side recently finished another training session in Ulsan on Monday. They are scheduled to meet at the National Football Centre in Paju on 23 March prior to their departure the following afternoon. In the AFC U-20 Asian Cup finals contested by 16 nations, Korea Republic open their campaign against Oman on 2 March, before taking on Jordan on 5 March and then Tajikistan on 8 March. Four tickets to the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Indonesia are at stake in the continental finals.

In the biannual U-20 finals, Korea Republic are the most successful side having won no fewer than 12 times in the competition. Most recently, they finished runners-up behind Saudi Arabia in 2018 before going on to finish second at the FIFA U-20 World Cup thanks to Lee Kangin’s heroics.

The U-20 Asian Cup had been originally scheduled to take place in 2020 before being cancelled due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Therefore, the continental finals will take place every odd numbered year like the world finals from this year on.

Korea Republic final squad for 2023 AFC U-20 Asian Cup (23 men)

Goalkeepers: Kim Joonhong (Gimcheon Sangmu), Moon Hyunho (Chungnam Asan), Kim Junghun (Korea University)

Defenders: Kim Jisoo (Seongnam FC), Hwang Intaek, Park Junyoung (Seoul ELand), Choi Seokhyeon (Dankook University), Bae Seojoon (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Park Changwoo (Jeonbuk Hyundai), Lee Junjae (Gyeongnam FC), Cho Youngkwang (FC Seoul)

Midfielders: Park Hyeonbin (Incheon United), Kim Gyeonghwan (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Lee Seungwon (Gangwon FC), Kim Heeseung (Daegu FC), Kang Sangyoon (Jeonbuk Hyundai)

Forwards: Kim Yonghak (Portimonense SC), Bae Junho (Daejeon Hana Citizen), Lee Junsang (Seongnam FC), Kang Sungjin (FC Seoul), Lee Youngjun (Gimcheon Sangmu), Mun Seungmin (Jeonju University), Sung Jinyoung (Korea University)