Kim Young-gwon

On 2 July 2012, Kim transferred to Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande on a four-year deal with a fee of 2.5 million US dollars. He made his debut for Guangzhou Evergrande on 22 August, in the first leg of 2012 Chinese FA Cup semi finals which Guangzhou beat Liaoning Whowin 1–0 at Tianhe Stadium. His first Chinese League debut came on 3 days later, in a 0–0 home draw against Tianjin Teda. He played both legs of 2012 AFC Champions League Quarter-finals against Al-Ittihad. He won 2012 Chinese Super League and 2012 Chinese FA Cup with Guangzhou in the 2012 season. On 20 April 2013, Kim scored his first league goal in the sixth round of 2013 Chinese Super League as Guangzhou beat Changchun Yatai 6–1. He won six titles with Guangzhou and was selected as a defender of the Team of the Year for four consecutive years in the Chinese Super League. He also won two AFC Champions Leagues and was named in the Dream Team of the 2015 AFC Champions League.

In January 2010, Kim joined J1 League side FC Tokyo after an impression trial within the team. On 20 March 2010, he made his senior debut in a league match against Gamba Osaka. He scored his first senior goal with a direct free kick on 6 June 2010, in the 2010 J.League Cup against Kyoto Sanga FC. Kim played 23 league matches for FC Tokyo in the 2010 season, however, the club relegated to the second tier by finishing 16th place in the league. Kim transferred to Omiya Ardija on 31 December 2010.

Kim received his first call-up by South Korea national football team in July 2010. He made his international debut on 11 August 2010, in a friendly match against Nigeria. He was named in the primary list for the 2011 AFC Asian Cup, however, he wasn't selected in the final squad. On 3 June 2011, Kim scored first international goal in an international friendly against Serbia. He was a member of South Korea's squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and started in all three of the team's group matches as they drew with Russia, before losing to Algeria and Belgium. At the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, he scored the second goal in South Korea's 2–0 semi-final defeat of Iraq on 26 January 2015, putting the nation into the Asian Cup final for the first time since 1988. In May 2018, he was named in South Korea's preliminary 28 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. In Korea's final group stage match against Germany, Kim scored in the 91st minute to knock out the defending world champions, coupled with a second goal minutes later by Son Heung-min.

Kim was named in the South Korea Universiade team for the 2009 Summer Universiade and played all six games. At the 2009 FIFA U-20 World Cup, he was the regular center defender of South Korea under-20, and scored a goal in the last group match against the United States, which resulted South Korea's advancing to the knockout stage. He also played for the South Korea national futsal team and participated in the 2009 Asian Indoor Games. At the 2010 Asian Games, he won the bronze medal with South Korea under-23. During the 2012 Summer Olympics, Kim played as a valuable member and a major defender of the South Korean national football team. South Korea advanced to semi-finals in Olympics football for the first time and eventually won the bronze in the tournament, which was the first Olympic medal ever in Korean football history.

In 2008, Kim joined the football club of the Jeonju University and didn't only play football but also futsal, helpful to his skills. In 2009, he participated in the KFA Futsal League which Korea Football Association hosted, and became top scorer with the trophy.

Kim Young-gwon (Korean: 김영권 , Hanja: 金英權, Korean pronunciation: [ki.mjʌŋ.ɡwʌn] or [kim.jʌŋ.ɡwʌn] ; born 27 February 1990) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays for Gamba Osaka and the South Korea national football team.