South Korea Announces World Cup Preselected Players

South Korea announced on Monday a list of 28 preselected players to compete in the 2018 World Cup, led by Tottenham star Son Heung-min, with the surprising presence of Lee Seung-woo, a midfielder from Hellas Verona who has not yet made his international debut.

Son has scored 12 goals this season in the Premier League, helping Tottenham finish third in the championship.

Lee, 20 years old and trained at Barcelona, ​​was relegated with Hellas Verona in Italy.

Coach Shin Tae-yong referred to the defensive losses: "There is a reason why I have called for more defenders (12), it is difficult for me to compose the line-up."

Nine of the 28 players participated in the 2014 Brazil World Cup, when the 'Taeguk Warriors' were eliminated in the group stage.

Before reducing the group to 23 players on June 4 - the FIFA deadline - South Korea will play friendly matches against Honduras on May 28 and against Bosnia on June 1 as part of their preparation.

South Korea is in Group F in Russia, along with Germany, Mexico, and Sweden.

South Korea's Pre-Selection

Goalkeepers:

Kim Seung-gyu (Vissel Kobe/JPN), Kim Jin-hyeon (Cerezo Osaka/JPN), Cho Hyun-woo (Daegu FC)

Defenders:

Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande/CHN), Jang Hyun-soo (Tokyo/JPN), Jung Seung-hyun (Sagan Tosu/JPN), Yun Yong-sun (Seongnam FC), Kwon Kyung-won (Tianjin Quanjian/CHN), Oh Ban-suk (Jeju United), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk), Kim Min-woo (Sangju Sangmu), Park Joo-ho (Ulsan), Hong Chul (Sangju Sangmu), Go Yo-han (FC Seoul), Lee Yong (Jeonbuk)

Midfielders:

Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea/ENG), Jung Woo-young (Vissel Kobe/JPN), Kwon Chang-hoon (Dijon/FRA), Ju Se-jong (Asan Mugunghwa), Koo Ja-cheol (FC Augsburg/AUT), Lee Jae-sung (Jeonbuk), Lee Seung-woo (Hellas Verona/ITA), Moon Seon-min (Incheon United), Lee Chung-yong (Crystal Palace/ENG)

Forwards:

Kim Shin-wook (Jeonbuk), Son Heung-min (Tottenham/ENG), Hwang Hee-chan (Red Bull Salzburg/AUT), Lee Keun-ho (Gangwon FC).