Baek Jong-bum (Korean백종범; born January 21, 2001) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for K League 1 club FC Seoul. Born in Daejeon, he attended Osan Middle and High School, where he underwent training through FC Seoul's development system. Baek signed with the club in 2018 and made his debut professional appearance in the 2022 K League 1 season.

Baek Jong-bum
Baek in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (2001-01-21) January 21, 2001 (age 23)
Place of birth Daejeon, South Korea
Height 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s) Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team
FC Seoul
Number 1
Youth career
2009–2011 Kang Jung-hoon FC
2011–2013 Daejeon Jungang Elementary School
2013–2016 Osan Middle School (youth)
2016–2018 Osan High School (youth)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2019– FC Seoul 34 (0)
International career
2014 South Korea under-14 2 (0)
2015–2016 South Korea under-17 4 (0)
2019–2021 South Korea under-20 2 (0)
2021– South Korea under-23 1 (0)

Korean name
Hangul
백종범
Hanja
白種範
Revised RomanizationBaek Jong-beom
McCune–ReischauerPaek Chongpŏm
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of December 2, 2023

Life and career

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Early life and youth career

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Baek Jong-bum was born on January 21, 2001, in Daejeon, South Korea.[1] He attended Daejeon Jungang Elementary School and played in its football team. It competed in the 2012 Hwarang Daegi National Youth Soccer Tournament and advanced into the finals; Baek received the GK (Goalkeeper) Award for his performance in the competition.[2]

Baek was admitted to Osan Middle School and played for the FC Seoul U-15 Team at the 33rd Seoul Football Association President's Cup in 2014. During the penalty shoot-out at the finals, he blocked Seil Middle School's final goal attempt, leading his team to a 5–4 victory. The team won its first championship in its second year participating in the competition.[3] The team also won all 16 of its matches at the 2015 National Secondary Soccer League Seoul Southern Region the following year; Baek was credited for its success, allowing only two goals to be scored against his club throughout the tournament.[4] He was given the Goalkeeper Award after his team won Industrial Bank of Korea's 51st Autumn Secondary Soccer Federation tournament.[5]

Baek enrolled at Osan High School and was vice-captain of the FC Seoul U-18 Team. During winter training for the 2018 season, he sustained an elbow injury that forced him to take a leave of absence.[6]

Senior career

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Baek in 2022

In a pool of 134 footballers, Baek was one of 15 selected to advance directly into the K League 1 in 2018.[7] He, along with four others, signed a 5-year contract with FC Seoul, becoming the first of its players to have undergone the club's development system at both Osan Middle and High School.[8]

Baek made his debut professional appearance in the sixth round of the 2022 K League 1 season amid an outbreak of COVID-19 among his team's squad, which faced off against Jeju United FC on March 19. In the second half of the game, as defender Jeong Woo-jae was shooting, Baek collided with the player's knee, resulting in head trauma. He was replaced by goalkeeper Hwang Sung-min and FC Seoul ultimately lost 2–1.[9] Baek played his first full game two months later against Pohang Steelers. His strong defense led FC Seoul to a 1–0 victory.[10] Midway through the year, he sustained an unspecified significant injury; FC Seoul recruited goalkeeper Seo Ju-hwan [ko] for the remainder of the season in Baek's absence.[11]

International career

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Baek represented South Korea at the 2014 AFC U-14 Championship, 2015 AFC U-16 Championship, and 2020 AFC U-19 Championship.[12][13][14]

Style of play

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Standing at 1.90 m (6 ft 3 in), Baek takes advantage of his height to catch balls in midair. His game management skills and coordinated defense, particularly against penalty kicks, are noted as his strengths.[8]

Career statistics

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As of December 2, 2023.[15]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
FC Seoul 2020 K League 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
2021 0 0 0 0 0 0
2022 4 0 0 0 4 0
2023 26 0 0 0 26 0
Career total 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0

References

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  1. ^ 선수단 소개 - 백종범 (in Korean). FC Seoul. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  2. ^ Jeon, Hong-pyo (August 21, 2012). 대전중앙초 '전국화랑대기 유소년 축구대회' 2연패. Chungcheong Today (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  3. ^ Choi, Yong-jae (November 20, 2014). FC서울 U-15 오산중, 서울시축구협회장배 우승. Joynews24 (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  4. ^ Kim, Hyeon-ki (July 19, 2015). 서울 산하 오산중, 16전 전승으로 서울남부권역 우승. Sportsseoul (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  5. ^ Lee, Bo-mi (May 8, 2015). FC서울 U-15팀, 추계 한국중등축구 연맹전 프로산하 그룹 우승. STN Sports (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  6. ^ Jeon, Sang-il (June 4, 2018). [우리 학교 에이스] 오산고 수문장 백종범. Ilyosisa (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Song, Chi-hun (October 18, 2018). K리그, 각 클럽별 2019 우선지명 선수 명단 발표 '총 134명 지명'. Sports Donga (in Korean). Dong-a Ilbo Company. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  8. ^ a b Park, Ju-seong (December 27, 2018). FC서울, U-15 오산중 출신 첫 프로선수 탄생. SpoTV (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  9. ^ Kim, Chan-hong (March 19, 2022). 홈팬 앞서 끝까지…FC서울이 보여준 '프로 의식' [K리그]. Kuki News (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  10. ^ '익수볼의 선택이 옳았다' 서울의 수호신이 된 깜짝선발 백종범. Monsterzym (in Korean). May 15, 2022. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  11. ^ Choi, Song-a (July 4, 2022). 홈팬 앞서 끝까지…FC서울이 보여준 '프로 의식' [K리그] (in Korean). Yonhap News Agency. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  12. ^ Park, Sang-kyeong (July 29, 2014). U-14, 아시아선수권 참가 명단 확정. Sports Chosun (in Korean). ChosunMedia. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Lee, Sang-pil (May 9, 2016). U-16 대표팀, 인도서 열리는 5개국 친선대회 참가. Sports Today (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  14. ^ Yu, Ji-sun (December 27, 2018). 정정용호, '판다컵 복수' 외치던 중국 4-1로 제압...챔피언십 본선행. Footballist (in Korean). Retrieved November 2, 2023.
  15. ^ Baek Jong-bum at Soccerway. Retrieved November 2, 2023.
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