Park Jong-woo (Korean: 박종우; born 10 March 1989) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Gangwon FC. He is known for his tenacious play in midfield and, notably, for a political gesture made during the 2012 London Olympics.
Club Career
Park Jong-woo began his professional career with Busan IPark in the K League 1, joining them in 2010. He quickly established himself as a key player in their midfield before moving to China in 2014 to play for Guangzhou R&F. He had a brief loan spell with Emirati club Al-Jazira in 2015 before returning to Busan IPark.He continued his career in the K League 1, playing for Suwon Samsung Bluewings from 2016 to 2018. In 2019, Park joined Ulsan Hyundai, where he won the AFC Champions League in 2020. During his tenure at Ulsan, he completed his mandatory military service with Gimcheon Sangmu. In 2023, Park transferred to Gangwon FC, where he continues his professional career.
International Career
Park Jong-woo represented South Korea at various youth levels before making his senior international debut. He was a key member of the South Korea U23 national team that participated in the 2012 London Olympics, winning a bronze medal. He earned 13 caps for the senior South Korea national team between 2012 and 2014.2012 London Olympics Incident
Park Jong-woo gained significant international attention during the 2012 London Olympics. After South Korea defeated Japan 2–0 in the bronze medal match, Park celebrated by holding up a sign to the crowd that read "Dokdo is our territory" (독도는 우리 땅). This gesture referred to the Liancourt Rocks, known as Dokdo in Korea and Takeshima in Japan, whose sovereignty is disputed between the two nations.The International Olympic Committee (IOC) prohibits political demonstrations by athletes. As a result of his action, Park was initially excluded from the bronze medal ceremony. FIFA, the international governing body for football, launched a disciplinary investigation into the incident. In December 2012, FIFA's disciplinary committee suspended Park for two international matches and fined him 3,500 Swiss francs for violating rules against political statements.
Following FIFA's ruling, the IOC confirmed that Park would receive his bronze medal, stating they were satisfied with FIFA's disciplinary action. He eventually received his medal in a private ceremony in February 2013, several months after the Games. The incident sparked considerable debate regarding the intersection of sports and politics, particularly in South Korea and Japan.
Honours
Club
- Ulsan Hyundai
- AFC Champions League: 2020
International
- South Korea U23
- Olympic Games Bronze Medal: 2012