Hong Jeong-ho

For the handballer, see Hong Jeong-ho (handballer).
In this Korean name, the family name is Hong.

Hong Jeong-ho
Hong with South Korea in 2013
Personal information
Full name Hong Jeong-ho[1]
Date of birth (1989-08-12) 12 August 1989
Place of birth Jeju City, Jeju, South Korea
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Suwon Samsung Bluewings
Number 20
College career
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2008–2009 Chosun University
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Jeju United 49 (2)
2013–2016 FC Augsburg 56 (2)
2016–2019 Jiangsu Suning 24 (3)
2018–2019 → Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan) 55 (3)
2020–2025 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 152 (4)
2023 Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B 1 (0)
2026– Suwon Samsung Bluewings 0 (0)
International career
2007–2009 South Korea U20 24 (2)
2010–2012 South Korea U23 16 (1)
2010–2018 South Korea 42 (2)
Medal record
Men's football
Representing  South Korea
AFC Asian Cup
2011 Qatar
Asian Games
2010 Guangzhou
EAFF Championship
2013 South Korea
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 5 January 2026
Hong Jeong-ho
Hangul
홍정호
Hanja
洪正好
RRHong Jeongho
MRHong Chŏngho

Hong Jeong-ho (Korean: 홍정호; Korean pronunciation: [hoŋ.dʑʌŋ.ɦo] or [hoŋ] [tɕʌŋ.ɦo]; born 12 August 1989) is a South Korean footballer who plays for K League 2 club Suwon Samsung Bluewings as a centre-back. He also played for the South Korea national team at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup and the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[2]

Club career

Jeju United

Hong joined K League club Jeju United in November 2009 after quitting Chosun University. In his first professional season, he contributed to Jeju's second-place finish at the K League, being selected for the K League Best XI.

Hong was regarded as one of the best talents in South Korea at the time, but was dragged into a match-fixing scandal and an injury for the next two years. He was accused of being involved in the 2011 South Korean football match-fixing scandal, and was held out of the league during a two-month investigation.[3] The investigation discovered that gangs had deposited ₩4 million unsolicited into his bank account, and he had later returned the funds. He was declared eligible for league matches after being cleared of wrongdoing.[4] The next year, he injured his cruciate ligament in a K League match, having to take a rest during the second half of the season. He was the captain of the South Korea Olympic team in 2011 and 2012, but was absent from the 2012 Summer Olympics.[5]

FC Augsburg

On 1 September 2013, Hong transferred to Bundesliga club FC Augsburg for a fee estimated around €2 million. He signed a four-year contract valid until 2017.[6] On 5 April 2014, he helped the club keep a clean sheet in a 1–0 win over Bayern Munich, giving Bayern their first defeat at the 2013–14 Bundesliga.[7] On 2 May 2015, he won 18 aerial duels in a 0–0 draw with 1. FC Köln,[8] being selected for the weekly European XI by Whoscored.com.[9] On 10 December, he scored his first goal for Augsburg in a 3–1 UEFA Europa League win over Partizan.[10] In the next match on 13 December, he scored his first Bundesliga goal, contributing to a 2–1 win over Schalke 04.[11]

Jiangsu Suning

Hong was not a main player early in his career at Augsburg, but gradually enhanced his status at the club for three years. On 14 July 2016, however, he moved to Chinese Super League club Jiangsu Suning, and his decision to leave the big league caused a controversy in South Korea.[12] He explained that the transfer to China would not influence his ability as a national team player.[13] Unlike his expectation, his mistakes increased in the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers, and the controversy was intensified.[14] To make matters worse, he was pushed to the bench at Jiangsu during the 2017 season.[15]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

On 13 January 2018, Hong was on loan to K League 1 club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.[16] Although he failed to be called up for the 2018 FIFA World Cup, he won two consecutive K League 1 titles for the term of his loan deal. On 13 January 2020, Jeonbuk agreed to his permanent move to them.[17] After the permanent switch, he added three league titles and three Korea Cup titles including two Doubles to his career. Especially, he received the K League Most Valuable Player Award when winning the league in 2021.[18]

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

On 31 December 2025, Hong moved to K League 2 club Suwon Samsung Bluewings.[19]

Personal life

Hong's brother Hong Jeong-nam was also a footballer who played for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 8 August 2025[20]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup [a] League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Jeju United 2010 K League 13 1 3 0 5[b] 0 — 3[c] 0 24 1
2011 K League 16 0 2 0 — 6[d] 0 — 24 0
2012 K League 9 0 0 0 — — — 9 0
2013 K League 1 11 1 3 0 — — — 14 1
Total 49 2 8 0 5 0 6 0 3 0 71 2
FC Augsburg 2013–14 Bundesliga 16 0 0 0 — — — 16 0
2014–15 Bundesliga 17 0 0 0 — — — 17 0
2015–16 Bundesliga 23 2 3 0 — 2[e] 1 — 28 3
Total 56 2 3 0 — 2 1 — 61 3
Jiangsu Suning 2016 Chinese Super League 12 2 3 0 — — — 15 2
2017 Chinese Super League 12 1 1 0 — 6[d] 2 1[f] 0 20 3
Total 24 3 4 0 — 6 2 1 0 35 5
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors (loan) 2018 K League 1 25 1 0 0 — 5[d] 0 — 30 1
2019 K League 1 30 2 0 0 — 7[d] 0 — 37 2
Total 55 3 0 0 — 12 0 — 67 3
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 2020 K League 1 22 1 3 0 — 5[d] 0 — 30 1
2021 K League 1 36 2 0 0 — 6[d] 1 — 42 3
2022 K League 1 19 1 2 0 — 5[d] 0 — 26 1
2023 K League 1 22 0 2 0 — 3[d] 1 — 27 1
2024 K League 1 19 0 0 0 — 3[d] 0 2[g] 0 24 0
2025 K League 1 20 0 2 0 — 0 0 — 22 0
Total 138 4 9 0 — 22 2 2 0 171 6
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors B 2023 K4 League 1 0 — — — — 1 0
Career total 323 14 24 0 5 0 48 5 6 0 406 19
  1. ^ Includes Korean FA Cup, DFB-Pokal, Chinese FA Cup
  2. ^ Appearances in Korean League Cup
  3. ^ Appearances in K League Championship
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i Appearances in AFC Champions League
  5. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ Appearance in Chinese Super Cup
  7. ^ Appearances in K League promotion-relegation play-offs

International

Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Hong goal.[2]
List of international goals scored by Hong Jeong-ho
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
1 15 November 2013 Seoul, South Korea   Switzerland 1–1 2–1 Friendly
2 28 March 2017 Seoul, South Korea  Syria 1–0 1–0 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification

Honours

Jiangsu Suning

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

South Korea U23

South Korea

Individual

References

  1. ^ "FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: Korea Republic" (PDF). FIFA. 6 October 2009. p. 13. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d "Hong Jeong-ho" (in Korean). KFA. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  3. ^ "Korean Olympic team captain Hong Jeong-Ho implicated in K-League match-fixing scandal". Goal. 6 July 2011. Archived from the original on 8 July 2011. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  4. ^ "Two players embroiled in K-League match-fixing scandal are cleared by prosecutors". The Jeju Weekly. 4 August 2011. Archived from the original on 3 September 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  5. ^ 병원 신세 9개월, 캡틴 홍정호 (in Korean). JoongAng Ilbo. 5 June 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  6. ^ "Hong Jeong-ho Signs 4-Year Deal with Augsburg". The Chosun Ilbo. Arirang News. 2 September 2013. Retrieved 1 October 2013.
  7. ^ "Mölders beendet die Serie der Münchner" (in German). kicker. 5 April 2014. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  8. ^ "Augsburg 0-0 FC Koln - Bundesliga 2014/2015 - Live Statistics". Whoscored.com. 2 May 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  9. ^ "Football Statistics | Soccer Statistics". Whoscored.com. Archived from the original on 8 May 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  10. ^ "Augsburg take Partizan out of equation". UEFA. 10 December 2015. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  11. ^ "Augsburg end fine week with victory over Schalke". ESPN. PA Sport. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  12. ^ '클라반 이적' 홍정호, 중국행 1주만 참았다면?. Nate (in Korean). Newsen. 21 July 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  13. ^ 홍정호 "中 진출, 국가대표 발탁에 영향 안 줄 것" (in Korean). KBS. 25 July 2016. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  14. ^ [창샤 on Air] 홍정호 "중국화 논란에 많이 반성, 꼭 승리하겠다". Nate (in Korean). Starnews Korea. 23 March 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  15. ^ 장쑤는 왜 홍정호를 1년 만에 버렸나? (in Korean). Goal. 13 July 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2025.
  16. ^ [오피셜]'대표급 DF' 홍정호, 장쑤 떠나 전북 1년 임대 (in Korean). The Chosun Ilbo. 13 January 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  17. ^ 전북현대, 국대 출신 홍정호 완전영입 (in Korean). Jeonbuk Ilbo. 13 January 2020. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  18. ^ a b [K리그 대상]'전북 첫 5연패' 홍정호 MVP·김상식 감독상 '독식'…영플레이어상 설영우(종합). Naver (in Korean). Kukmin Ilbo. 7 December 2021. Retrieved 7 December 2021.
  19. ^ [오피셜]"차기 레전드의 슬픈 작별" 베테랑 홍정호 진짜 '굿바이', 수원행 예정…송민규-권창훈도 OUT. Daum (in Korean). Sports Chosun. 31 December 2025. Retrieved 4 January 2026.
  20. ^ "Jeong-Ho Hong's career". BeSoccer. Retrieved 18 December 2025.
  21. ^ K리그 연맹, 올스타전 참가 명단 발표 (in Korean). Moonhwa Journal 21. 28 June 2012. Retrieved 23 June 2024.
  22. ^ MVP 홍정호, 중앙수비수로 K리그1 이달의 선수상도 첫 수상 (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. 21 December 2021. Retrieved 22 December 2025.
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