Kim Minjae and Chun Garam have been voted as the KFA Players of the Year 2023.
 

The duo was selected as the best performers of last year with more than 200 distinguished guests present at the 2023 KFA Awards ceremony that took place in Mayfield Hotel, Seoul on Tuesday.
 

The Player of the Year award is given to the male and the female players who have pulled off outstanding performances in the previous year, voted by the pundits and football journalists every year since 2010. Both Kim and Chun have won their first trophies in this category.
 

The men’s part in the category was selected by 50 voters from the press, KFA’s technical development committee as well as the national team reinforcement committee. Having finished runner-up behind Son Heungmin in 2021 and 2022 respectively, Kim leapfrogged into pole position this time with 137 points.
 

Son, the most successful player in this category with seven trophies including the four consecutive titles until last year, finished second with 113 points whilst Lee Kangin claimed third place with 84 points.
 

Kim was an integral part of the SSC Napoli side that won the Italian Serie A last season, before moving on to FC Bayern Munchen to ply his trade in the German Bundesliga. He has also been the key player in Korea Republic’s rearguard, helping them achieve six clean sheets in succession over the course of his eight appearances for the national team. In fact, it is only the second time in eight years that a defender is voted as the Player of the Year, since Kim Younggwon won the award in 2015.
 

The women’s part in the category was decided by the votes from the WK League coaches, women’s national team coaching staff, and full-time coaches of KFA women’s football department. It was a close contest decided by one point, with Chun receiving 20 points to edge legendary Ji Soyun.
 

The diminutive winger has established herself as a fixture in Korea Republic women’s national team, scoring four goals in 12 international matches including the Women’s World Cup and the Asian Games. She also played a pivotal role in Hwacheon KSPO’s fairytale run to the second-place finish in the WK League last season.
 

Meanwhile, the Young Players of the Year awards went to Asian Games gold medallist Hwang Jaewon and women’s football starlet Casey Yujin Phair, who became the youngest ever player to take part in the Women’s World Cup last summer.
 

The Coaches of the Year awards were claimed by Kim Gidong, who led Pohang Steelers to winning the FA Cup and finishing runners up in the K League, as well as Kim Eunsuk, who guided Incheon Hyundai Steel to an unprecedented 11th consecutive championship last year.
 

The Officials of the Year recipients were Ko Hyungjin and Park Sangjun in men’s category, with Oh Hyunjung and Kim Kyungmin taking the honours in women’s part.

2023 KFA Awards main recipients

Players of the Year: Kim Minjae (FC Bayern Munchen), Chun Garam (Hwacheon KSPO)

Young Players of the Year: Hwang Jaewon (Daegu FC), Casey Yujin Phair (free agent)

Coaches of the Year: Kim Gidong (FC Seoul), Kim Eunsuk (Incheon Hyundai Steel)

Officials of the Year: Ko Hyungjin (men’s referee), Oh Hyunjung (women’s referee), Park Sangjun (men’s linesman), Kim Kyungmin (women’s lineman)

KFA 90th Anniversary Special Achievement Award: Nike / Cho Kwangrae (Daegu FC CEO) / late coach Park Jonghwan