Hong Seo-yun, a teenage soccer player from Gwangyang Girls' High School, was called up to the South Korean women's national team on Monday for two friendly matches against the United States next month. At 15 years and 319 days old, she is the third youngest player to be called up to the women's national team.
The two youngest participants were Seattle Reign FC midfielder Ji So-yun, who was 15 years and 217 days old, and Hyundai High School's Kwon Daun, who was 15 years and 309 days old.
National team coach Colin Bell called up the now 33-year-old Ji Soon for the second consecutive game against the United States, but Kwon was not included in the roster.
In addition to Hong and Ji, Lee Geum-min, who was selected as a regular midfielder for Brighton & Hove Albion, Cho So-hyun from Birmingham City, and Kang Chae-rim and Jeong Eun-ah from Suwon FC have joined the midfield line-up. Hwacheon KSPO midfielder Lee Jeong-eun also joined the team for the first time in seven years.
On the defensive side, Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels' Kim Hye-ri, who has 124 caps, joined the team along with teammates Hong Hye-ji and Ju Hyo-joo, as well as Madrid CFF's Lee Young-joo and Madrid CFF's Lee Eun-young. . Changnyeong WFC, Ko Yoon-ah from Hwacheon, Jang Sergi and Kim Jin-hee from Gyeongju KHNP.
The five forwards who joined the team are Moon Mi-ra from Suwon, Jung Ga-ram from Hwacheon, Choi Yuri from Birmingham, Kwak Ro-young from Gyeongju, and Casey Fair from Angel City.
Farr has been a regular on the national team since last year, when she became the youngest player to play in the Women's World Cup at the age of 16 years and 26 days.
The team consisted of Red Angels' goalkeeper Kim Jeong-mi, Gyeongju's Choi Ye-seul, and Suwon's Kim Kyung-hee.
Bell's team will play their second straight match against the United States following their two-game winning streak against the Philippines, which Taegeuk Ladies won 3-0 and 2-1 in a friendly last month.
The Taegeuk Ladies will depart for the United States on May 27th, play the first match in Colorado on June 1st, and the second match in Minnesota on June 4th.
Text: Baek Ji-hwan [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]