‘I’ll protect Ulsan’s goal until the end!’ Kookmin GK Cho Hyun-woo signs new 4-year contract with Ulsan
South Korean national team goalkeeper Cho Hyun-woo, 32, has signed a four-year contract extension with Ulsan Hyundai. 먹튀검증
“Jo Hyun-woo, who joined Ulsan as a free agent in January 2020, will play as Ulsan’s goalkeeper for a total of eight years, including the four years he has played so far and the next four years,” Ulsan said in a statement.
Living up to his nickname, “Light Hyun-woo,” Cho Hyun-woo has been the team’s goalkeeper for the past four years with dazzling saves and dramatic moments. In particular, Cho Hyun-woo has established himself as one of the league’s leading goalkeepers, being named to the “Best 11” by position at the K League Year-End Awards in each of the three seasons since joining Ulsan. He was also recognized for his contributions to the team and strict self-care by winning the All-League and All-Time Appearances titles in the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Most notably, Cho played a silent and steady role in Ulsan’s 12-match clean sheet in the 2022 K League Cup season, when they won their first title in 17 years.
Between the league, cup competitions, and the national team, Cho Hyun-woo has been making a name for himself, his team, and his country. After conceding just 33 goals in 36 games in the 2022 season to keep his goals-against average below one, Cho has kept his goals-against average at exactly one this season, conceding just 21 goals in 21 league games. He has also kept a total of seven clean sheets in 21 league games this season, which has helped the team’s dominant run to the top of the standings. His seven clean sheets in 21 games is the most by any goalkeeper in the K League this season.
Most importantly, he is above the league average in passing, a metric that has been criticized as a weakness. Cho has been a key part of Ulsan’s build-up play, which is characterized by organized movement from the back. Through 21 rounds of the league, Cho has a 100% success rate on short passes (league average 98.7%) and a 98.9% success rate on medium passes (league average 97.7%). In particular, he is becoming a near-perfect goalkeeper with a 51.4% success rate on long-distance passes, far exceeding the league average of 38.7%.
After his thrilling save in the East Coast Derby against the Pohang Steelers in Round 21, Cho Hyun-woo said at the post-match press conference, “I think I still have a lot to work on. I won’t be complacent,” he said, showing his humility and pursuit of perfection, leading fans and officials to expect more from him.
After eight long years with Ulsan, Cho Hyun-woo said, “I’m very lucky to be able to spend more time in Ulsan with my family and fans who are like family. I will repay the faith for the rest of my career,” he said of his extension.
Meanwhile, Ulsan will hold a press conference to announce Cho Hyun-woo’s extension after the 22nd round of the Hana One Q K League 1 match against Incheon United at Munsu Soccer Stadium on December 12 at 7:00 pm.