The modern full back has to do a bit of everything. They need to be sound defensively but are also expected to contribute in attacking situations. After starting with the top goalkeepers in K League 2 in 2022, we turn our attention to the top full or wing backs of the division.

A lot is expected of the modern-day full back. They need to offer a lot going forward, in particular when it comes to getting crosses into the box.Evidence of just how important full backs are can be seen in how high K League 2 full backs ranked for the total number of crosses this past season. FC Anyang's Joo Hyeon-woo was the full back that racked up the most crosses in K League 2 last season with 122, behind him was his teammate from the other flank Kim Dong-jin with 116, and Gyeongnam's Lee Jun-jae third with 115.

1. Joo Hyeon-woo, FC Anyang - 122 (2nd overall)
2. Kim Dong-jin, FC Anyang - 116 (3rd overall)
3. Lee Jun-jae, Gyeongnam FC - 115 (4th overall)

With the traditional winger now something of a dying breed, full backs create width. So, it's all well and good sending the ball into the mixer but crosses needed to be accurate.  An entirely different set of players make up the top three when it comes to accuracy. Seoul E-Land's Hwang Tae-hyeon was first with 55.56%, behind him Gwangju FC's Lee Eu-ddeum at 54.05%, and Gyeongnam's promising youngster Park Kwang-il with 52.5%.

1. Hwang Tae-hyeon, Seoul E-Land - 55.56% (1st overall)
2. Lee Eu-ddeum, Gwangju FC - 54.05% (2nd overall)
3. Park Kwang-il, Gyeongnam FC - 52.5% (3rd overall)

Full backs are judged on the number of assists the provide, too, such is their importance to a team's attacking play. Gwangju FC's Lee Eu-ddeum recorded nine to sit second overall and first among the full backs, followed by Park Kwang-il of Gyeongnam with six and Busan IPark's Choi Jun also with six.

1. Lee Eu-ddeum, Gwangju FC - 9 (2nd overall)
2. Park Kwang-il, Gyeongnam FC - 6 (6th overall)
2. Choi Jun, Busan IPark - 6 (6th overall)

Sometimes, a player has done all they can to create a goal-scoring opportunity. The final ball was inch-perfect, it landed exactly where they wanted it to, but the forward player was unable to finish the job. In this case, a player would be credited with a key pass and full backs are among the most productive. Kim Dong-jin of FC Anyang was first among the full backs, second overall, with 21, with Seoul E-Land's Hwang Tae-hyeon close behind him with 20, and Park Kwang-il third with 17.

1. Kim Dong-jin, FC Anyang - 21 (2nd overall)
2. Hwang Tae-hyeon, Seoul E-Land - 20 (4th overall)
3. Park Kwang-il, Gyeongnam FC - 17 (7th overall)

Of course, a defender needs to be able to defend. Choi Jun made the most tackles among all players not just full backs with 56, he was followed by Jeonnam Dragons' Lee Hu-gwon with 33, and Lee Soon-min of Gwangju FC with 30.

1. Choi Jun, Busan IPark - 56 (1st overall)
2. Lee Hu-gwon, Jeonnam Dragons - 33 (13th overall)
3. Lee Soon-min, Gwangju FC - 30 (15th overall)

Another key stat players at the back will be judged on is the number of defensive duels they win. Full backs don't score too highly in this metric, not in K League last season at least, nevertheless Ansan Greeners' Japanese left back Go Iwase was the outstanding performer with 73.99% of defensive duels won to rank sixth overall and first among full backs. Behind Go was Seoul E-Land's Hwang Tae-hyeon with 67.65%, and Bucheon FC 1995's Bae Jae-woo at 67.5%.

1. Go Iwase, Ansan Greeners - 73.99% (6th overall)
2. Hwang Tae-hyeon, Seoul E-Land - 67.65% (28th overall)

3. Bae Jae-woo, Bucheon FC 1995 - 67.5% (30th overall)

It doesn't matter where it goes, as long as it's not near your own penalty box - sometimes you just need to send the ball into row z and clear the danger. But, evidently, clearances aren't something that full backs do too often in K League. The K League 2 full back who made the most clearances in 2022 was Jeonnam Dragons' Kim Tae-hyeon with 195 to just about make it into the top 10. Further down the list were Lee Min-ki of Gyeongnam FC with 144 and Busan's Choi Jun with 139.

1. Kim Tae-hyeon, Jeonnam Dragons - 195 (19th overall)

2. Lee Min-ki, Gyeongnam FC - 144 (29th overall)

3. Choi Jun, Busan IPark - 139 (30th overall)

Being the most alert to snuff out the danger, a defender can help turn a defensive situation into an attacking one. But first and foremost, an interception means your team now has the ball and can look to move up the pitch. Jeonnam Dragons' Kim Tae-hyeon helped his team the most in this regard with 224 interceptions to sit fourth overall but first among the full backs, followed by Choi Jun of Busan IPark with 184 and Lee Min-ki with 173. 

1. Kim Tae-hyeon, Jeonnam Dragons - 224 (4th overall)
2. Choi Jun, Busan IPark - 184 (15th overall)
3. Lee Min-ki, Gyeongnam FC - 173 (19th overall)