Won Du-jae

In this Korean name, the family name is Won.

Won Du-jae (Korean: 원두재; Hanja: 元斗才; born 18 November 1997) is a South Korean professional footballer.^[1] He plays as a defensive midfielder or a sweeper for Khor Fakkan and the South Korea national team.

Won Du-jae

Won in 2020
Personal information
Date of birth	(1997-11-18) 18 November 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth	Seoul, South Korea
Height	1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s)	Defensive midfielder, sweeper
Team information
Current team	Khor Fakkan
Number	18
College career
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2016–2017	Hanyang University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2019	Avispa Fukuoka	68	(2)
2020–2024	Ulsan HD	79	(1)
2023–2024	→ Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)	46	(2)
2024–	Khor Fakkan	23	(0)
International career‡
2015–2016	South Korea U20	3	(0)
2019–2021	South Korea U23	17	(1)
2020–	South Korea	8	(0)
Medal record Representing  South Korea Men's football AFC U-23 Championship Winner 2020 Thailand
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 25 May 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 10 June 2025

Club career

In the summer of 2017, Won dropped out of Hanyang University and moved to Japan to join J2 League club Avispa Fukuoka. After playing as a defensive midfielder and a centre-back for Fukuoka for two and a half years, he came back to his country and joined K League 1 side Ulsan Hyundai.^[2] Ulsan usually used him as a defensive midfielder, and he played as a centre-back when his rear teammates were injured.^[3] Ulsan fans felt he looked better when he played as a midfielder.^[4] He helped the club win the 2020 AFC Champions League and the 2022 K League 1. He enlisted in Gimcheon Sangmu, a military football club and a K League 2 club, to serve his mandatory military service in 2023.^[5] He was nominated for the K League 2 Most Valuable Player award by leading Sangmu to the league title as a captain, but lost to Valdívia.^[6] After being discharged from Sangmu in July 2024, he transferred to UAE Pro League club Khor Fakkan.

International career

Won played for South Korea under-23s at the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship and the 2020 Summer Olympics. At the AFC U-23 Championship, he won the title and was named the Most Valuable Player.^[7]

Career statistics

As of 25 May 2025^{[8][citation needed]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Avispa Fukuoka	2017	J2 League	18	2	0	0	—		2[a]	0	20	2
	2018	J2 League	17	0	1	0	—		—		18	0
	2019	J2 League	33	0	2	0	—		—		35	0
	Total		68	2	3	0	—		2	0	73	2
Ulsan HD	2020	K League 1	23	0	5	0	7[b]	1	—		35	1
	2021	K League 1	30	1	1	0	3[b]	0	2[c]	0	36	1
	2022	K League 1	21	0	3	1	4[b]	0	—		28	1
	2024	K League 1	5	0	2	0	—		—		7	0
	Total		79	1	11	1	14	1	2	0	106	3
Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)	2023	K League 2	34	1	1	0	—		—		35	1
	2024	K League 1	12	1	1	0	—		—		13	1
	Total		46	2	2	0	—		—		48	2
Khor Fakkan	2024–25	UAE Pro League	23	0	1	0	—		—		24	0
Career total			216	5	17	1	14	1	4	0	251	7

1. Appearances in Promotion Playoffs to J1
2. Appearances in AFC Champions League
3. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup

Honours

Ulsan HD

• AFC Champions League: 2020
• K League 1: 2022, 2024

Gimcheon Sangmu

• K League 2: 2023

South Korea U23

• AFC U-23 Championship: 2020^[7]

Individual

• AFC U-23 Championship Most Valuable Player: 2020^[7]
• Korean FA Young Player of the Year: 2020^[9]
• K League 2 Best XI: 2023^[6]