Some K League players are so synonymous with their current clubs that it's hard to imagine them playing for another team. Some even played for their current team's rivals. The next installment in this new series of Changing Allegiances takes a look at some more well-known K League stars and the other clubs they represented once upon a time.
Defensive midfielder Ju Se-jong, the newly-appointed captain of Daejeon Hana Citizen, is perhaps most well-known for his time with FC Seoul where he won the 2016 K League 1 title. But his K League career began with south coast side Busan IPark in 2012. Ju would spend four seasons with Busan, making 63 appearances for the club in all competitions before earning a move to Seoul.
K League Club History: Busan IPark, FC Seoul, Asan Mugunghwa, Daejeon Hana Citizen
Honours: K League 1 (2016), K League 2 (2018), Promotion Playoffs (2022)
K League Apps: 208
Goals: 14
Assists: 23
Lim Jong-eun
The eagle-eyed among us may have seen Lim Jong-eun in the image of Ju Se-jong. He is up next in this edition of Changing Allegiances but not for his time with Jeonnam Dragons as pictured. Lim, currently of Ulsan Hyundai, had a spell with the Horangi's title rivals where he even won the 2017 K League title. One spell on Lim's CV which may have been forgotten about is his time as a Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma player. After starting his career with Ulsan, Lim spent the 2012 campaign at Tancheon and appeared in the AFC Champions League for them before moving to Jeonnam Dragons in 2013.
K League Club History: Ulsan Hyundai, Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Jeonnam Dragons, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Honours: K League 1 (2017, 2022), AFC Champions League (2016)
K League Apps: 248
Goals: 9
Assists: 2
Kim Min-hyuk
Another player with an Ulsan and Seongnam connection is Kim Min-hyuk as the midfielder joined the Horangi from the Magpies ahead of the 2023 season. Kim was actually once on the books of FC Seoul but played just nine times during the 2015 campaign. His only goal in the colours of FC Seoul came in the AFC Champions League, the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Kashima Antlers. Kim left Sangam for Gwangju in 2016 and also had a spell with Pohang Steelers before signing for Seongnam.
K League Club History: FC Seoul, Gwangju FC, Pohang Steelers, Seongnam FC, Sangju Sangmu, Ulsan Hyundai
K League Apps: 181
Goals: 16
Assists: 22
Kim Kee-hee
Continuing with the Ulsan Hyundai connection, current Horangi Kim Kee-hee is perhaps most known for his spell with Jeonbuk where he won two K League titles. Both came before his move to China where he won the FA Cup, and MLS where he won the MLS Cup but before all that, Kim began his career with Daegu FC back in 2011. He played 31 times for the Sky Blues, scoring twice.
K League Club History: Daegu FC, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, Ulsan Hyundai
Honours: K League 1 (2014, 2015, 2022), AFC Champions League (2020)
K League Apps: 172
Goals: 3
Assists: 4
