Kim Moon-hwan joins Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Kim Moon-hwan [YONHAP]

K League club Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors announced Wednesday they have signed right-back Kim Moon-hwan from Los Angeles FC.

Kim started his career in the K League 2 with Busan iPark. After three seasons in the K League 2, including being named to the second-tier's best XI in 2018 and 2019, Kim was part of the Busan squad that was promoted to the K League 1 ahead of the 2020 season. Kim continued with Busan that season, then moved to Los Angeles at the start of 2021.

Kim made 27 appearances with Los Angeles in Major League Soccer last year, scoring one goal for the West Coast club. He made just one appearance this year before the club announced his transfer last week.

The right back has made 14 appearances for the Korean national team and earned a military exemption as part of the U-23 team that won gold at the 2018 Asian Games.

Kim joins a Jeonbuk squad that is struggling to find its feet this season. After finishing the 2021 K League season in first place for a fifth straight year, the Jeolla squad have got off to a painfully slow start this year and currently sit in the relegation zone at the bottom of the table.

With six games played, Jeonbuk are currently 11th of 12 teams with one win, two draws and three losses. The team's sole win came in the opening game of the season, when they beat Suwon FC 1-0 on Feb. 19, with things getting steadily worse since then.

While Jeonbuk struggle at the bottom of the table, K League rivals Ulsan Hyundai, who they overtook to take first place last season, are sitting comfortably at the top of the table, eight points ahead.

As well as the K League, Jeonbuk will also be in action in both the AFC Champions League and the FA Cup in the next two months.

BY JIM BULLEY [jim.bulley@joongang.co.kr]