Paju Frontier FC

Paju Frontier
Full namePaju Frontier Football Club
파주 프런티어 FC
Founded16 February 2012 (2012-02-16) as Paju Citizen
GroundPaju Stadium
Capacity23,000
ChairmanKim Kyung-il (Mayor of Paju)
ManagerGerard Nus
LeagueK League 2
2025K3 League, 10th of 15
Websitehttp://fc.pajusports.co.kr/

Paju Frontier FC (Korean: 파주 프런티어 FC), formerly Paju Citizen Football Club (Korean: 파주 시민 축구단) is a South Korean professional football club based in the city of Paju. The club was founded in 2012 and plays in K League 2, the second tier of men's football in South Korea.

History

Amateur years (2012-2019)

The club was founded in February 2012 as Paju Citizen FC and played its first match in the third tier Challengers League the following month.[1] In its inaugural season, Paju Citizen progressed to the Challengers League championship semi-final.[2] The following year, the club beat Hwaseong FC in the semi-final but lost in the final to defending champions Pocheon Citizen to finish as runners-up.[3][4]

In 2017, when the league was restructured, the club participated in the K3 League Advanced.[5] Paju finished in 11th place and were relegated to the 2018 K3 League Basic, where they came in second place to earn promotion back to the K3 League Advanced the following year.[6][7][8][9] The 2019 season saw Paju Citizen compete in the final iteration of the K3 League Advanced before the league system underwent another restructuring ahead of the 2020 season.[10]

Semi-professional era (2020-2025)

With the establishment of the new semi-professional K3 League and K4 League system, Paju joined the K4 League in 2020.[11][12] They earned promotion to the 2021 K3 League as inaugural K4 champions.[13] Paju were runners-up in K3 in 2022.[14]

Professional era (2026-)

In August 2025, the K League board of directors approved Paju's membership, paving the way for the club to become fully professional and join K League 2 from the 2026 season.[14] In October 2025, it was announced that Gerard Nus would manage Paju FC from 2026, marking his return to South Korea after 14 years elsewhere.[15] The following month, Paju Citizen officially changed its name to Paju Frontier as part of a rebranding exercise in anticipation of its first season in the second division.[16] On 16 January 2026, Paju Frontier received final approval membership from the K League, confirming its participation in the 2026 K League 2.[17]

Colours and crest

On 24 November 2025, Paju Frontier revealed a new crest, featuring 20 cosmos representing the 20 administrative districts of Paju, and a pigeon, the official representative animal of the city. [18]

The club's colours are 'Frontier Blue' and 'Cosmos Pink'.[19]

Stadium

Paju's home ground is Paju Stadium, a multi-purpose bowl stadium that seats 20,000.[20][21] The club's training ground is the Paju National Football Center, previously the training ground of the South Korea national football team.[19]

Current squad

As of 13 March 2026.[22]

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Pos. Nation Player
1 GK  KOR Ryu Won-woo (vice-captain)
2 DF  KOR Kim Min-sung
4 DF  KOR Kim Hyun-tae
5 DF  KOR Sim Min-yong
6 DF  KOR Cheon Hyeon-byung (vice-captain)
7 MF  BRA Walterson
8 MF  KOR Choi Bum-kyung
9 FW  CUW Jafar Arias
10 MF  KOR Lee Joon-suk
11 MF  KOR Choi Won-rok
13 GK  KOR Kim Min-seung
14 MF  KOR Seo Dong-han
16 FW  KOR Lee Dae-kwang
17 MF  KOR Park Su-been
18 FW  KOR Lee Je-ho
19 MF  KOR Yu Jae-jun
20 DF  KOR Hong Jeong-un (captain)
21 GK  KOR Hwang Jun-mo
No. Pos. Nation Player
22 DF  KOR Lee Min-ki
23 FW  KOR Sung Jin-young
26 DF  KOR Lee Yeon-gyu
27 MF  PAR Julio Báez
33 DF  COL Julián Bonilla
34 DF  KOR Roh Seung-ik
40 MF  ENG Luke Amos
45 DF  KOR Seo Jung-hyun
47 MF  KOR Choi Sang-yoon
77 MF  KOR Lee Chan-ho
81 DF  KOR Kim Min-ho
88 DF  KOR Lee Taek-geun
91 GK  KOR Yeom Gyung-min
92 FW  ESP Borja Bastón
95 FW  THA Siam Yapp
97 DF  KOR Jeon Yu-sang
99 FW  KOR Lee Dong-yeol

Backroom staff

Coaching staff

  • Manager: Gerard Nus
  • Assistant manager: Ramon Ferrer
  • Goalkeeping coach: Kim Beom-soo
  • Coach: Jay Son
  • Physical coach: Sergio Carlos

Managerial history

  • Joo Deok-jeung (2012)
  • Oh Won-jae (2013)
  • Kim Chul (2014–2015)
  • Jeon Jeong-seon (2015–2017)
  • Jeon Seong-hoon (2018)
  • Lee Eun-no (2019–2023)
  • Oh Beom-seok (2024)
  • Lee Eun-no (2025)
  • Gerard Nus (2026–)

Honours

Season-by-season records

Season Teams Tier League Placement Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts League Cup FA Cup Manager
2012 18 3 K3 Challengers League Semifinal 25 15 5 5 61 34 +27 50  -  DNQ Cho Deok-jeung
2013 18 4 K3 Challengers League Runner-up↑ 16 1 4 2 38 14 +24 34  -  Second Round Oh Won-Jae
2014 18 K3 Challengers League Playoff 25 13 8 4 45 23 +22 47  -  First Round
2015 18 K3 League Playoff 25 15 4 6 56 22 +34 48.5  -  Second Round
2016 20 K3 League 7th 19 10 4 5 47 24 +23 34  -  Third Round
2017 12 K3 Advanced 11th 22 6 6 10 22 31 -9 24  -  Third Round
2018 11 5 K3 Basic 2nd 20 14 1 4 40 10 +30 43  -  Third Round Jeong Seong-hoon
2019 12 4 K3 Advanced 6th 22 11 2 9 30 26 +4 35  -  Round of 16 Oh Won-jae
2020 13 K4 League Winners↑ 24 16 5 3 42 27 +15 53  None  Second Round
2021 15 3 K3 League 10th 28 8 11 9 32 36 -4 35  None  Second Round
2022 16 K3 League 2nd 30 15 11 4 43 29 +14 56  None  Second Round
2023 15 K3 League 7th 28 11 5 12 32 27 +5 38  None  Round of 16
2024 16 K3 League 8th 30 11 9 10 30 30 0 42  None  Second Round Oh Beom-seok
2025 15 K3 League 10th ↑ 28 10 6 12 27 32 -5 36  None  Second Round Lee Eun-no

References

  1. ^ Oh, Kyung-hwan (21 March 2012). "파주시민축구단, K3리그 첫 홈개막전 가져" [Paju Citizen FC to play first home season opener in K3]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ^ Kim, Hee-jin (7 November 2012). "2012 다음 챌린저스리그, 10일부터 4강 PO 돌입" [2012 Daum Challengers League, semi-finals start from the 10th]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  3. ^ Lee, Geon (30 October 2013). "화성FC-파주시민축구단, 챌린저스리그 준결승PO 대결" [Hwaseong FC, Paju Citizen FC clash in Challengers League semi-final playoff]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  4. ^ Kim, Kyu-seok (12 November 2013). "파주시민축구단 준우승 차지" [Paju Citizen finish as runners-up]. Paju Times (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  5. ^ Lee, Wan-jong (26 February 2017). "청주시티FC, 2017 K3리그 산뜻한 출발" [Cheongju City FC make a fresh start in 2017 K3 League]. Jungbu Maeil (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  6. ^ Lee, Bo-mi (14 October 2017). "파주, 경주와 통한의 무승부...양주와 강등 확정" [Paju draw with Gyeongju, confirm relegation along with Yangju]. STN Sports (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  7. ^ Lee, Yoon-gi (14 March 2018). "파주시민축구단, 오는 25일 2018 K3 개막전 개최" [Paju Citizen FC 2018 K3 League home opener to take place on 25th]. Gyeonggi News Top (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  8. ^ Park, Sang-don (29 October 2018). "파주시민축구단, K3리그 어드밴스리그 승격 화려한 피날레" [The splendid finale in Paju Citizen FC's push for promotion to K3 League Advance]. The Joongboo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  9. ^ "파주시민축구단 K3리그 승격" [Paju Citizen promoted in K3 League]. Paju Sidae (in Korean). 29 October 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  10. ^ Lee, Gyun-jae (21 March 2019). "'도전 향한 열정'...달라지는 K3리그 23일 개막" ['Passion to challenge': Changing K3 League opens on 23rd]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  11. ^ "Breaking: K3 and K4 League teams confirmed". K League United. 19 December 2019. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  12. ^ Lee, Gyun-jae (19 December 2019). "KFA, K3-K4리그 참가팀 1차 확정...총 28개팀 참가 승인" [KFA confirms teams for first season of K3 and K4 Leagues, 28 teams approved altogether]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  13. ^ Park, Dae-joon (November 23, 2020). "파주시민축구단, K4리그 초대 우승... K3리그로 승격" [Paju Citizen FC first champions of K4 League, promoted to K3]. News 1 (in Korean). Retrieved July 24, 2024.
  14. ^ a b Neat, Paul (11 August 2025). "K League 2 membership granted to Paju, Gimhae, Yongin for 2026". K League United. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  15. ^ Woo, Chung-won (22 October 2025). "파주시민축구단, '포옛호 수석코치' 출신 제라드 누스 초대 감독 선임" [Paju Citizen FC appoint Gerard Nus, former assistant coach to Poyet, as manager]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  16. ^ Noh, Jin-ju (10 November 2025). "파주시, K리그2 진출 구단 공식 명칭 '파주 프런티어 FC' 확정" [Paju City confirms official club name 'Paju Frontier FC' for advancement to K League 2]. Chosun Ilbo (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  17. ^ Neat, Paul (16 January 2026). "News: Promotion and relegation between K League 2 and K3 possible from 2026". K League United. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  18. ^ An, Hong-seok (24 November 2025). "파주 프런티어 FC, 코스모스·비둘기 어우러진 엠블럼 공개" [Paju Frontier FC unveil emblem featuring cosmos and pigeon]. Yonhap News Agency (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  19. ^ a b Jung, Seung-woo (25 November 2025). "파주 프런티어 FC, '코스모스 모티브' 새 엠블럼 전격 공개...K리그2 준비보고회 성황" [Paju Frontier FC reveal new 'cosmos motif' emblem after successful K League 2 preparatory report meeting]. Chosun Biz (in Korean). Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  20. ^ Farrell, Andrew (14 January 2026). "Introducing Gimhae, Paju, and Yongin: K League's new clubs". K League United. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  21. ^ Farrell, Andrew (23 December 2025). "K League adds three new stadiums for the 'hopper". K League United. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  22. ^ "선수소개" [Player introduction]. fc.pajusports.co.kr (in Korean). Paju Frontier FC. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
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