WK League News

Park is a familiar face to long-time followers of the WK League, but may be a new name for more recent converts. Making a return to women’s football after almost a decade working in the men’s game, Park has inherited a talented squad from predecessor Song Juhee, and fans are hopeful that his experience will help Gyeongju KHNP fulfil their potential after a disappointing season in 2025.

A native of Seoul, Park played football for Ilhwa Chunma throughout the 1990s, remaining at the same club for his entire career, except for a stint at Sangmu for military duty and a handful of appearances for Suwon Samsung Bluewings in their K League 1 title-winning 2004 season. Ilhwa Chunma has since evolved to become Seongnam FC, and have struggled in recent years, but during Park’s time at the club they were one of the powerhouses of Korean football, claiming several league and domestic cup titles, not to mention winning the AFC Champions League and the Asian Super Cup. Park also made several appearances for the South Korean national team.

After hanging up his boots, Park embarked upon his coaching career, starting out at an U-15 academy side before joining Goyang Daekyo Noonnoppi (later known as Icheon Daekyo) ahead of the inaugural season of the WK League season in 2009. He led the side to three WK League titles in four years, and briefly served as head coach for the South Korea women’s team. The lure of his former team proved too tempting an opportunity to miss, and he joined Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma as a coach in the 2013 season but returned to the WK League, and to Daekyo, the following year as the team relocated to Icheon. During Park’s three-year second stint, Daekyo finished as runners-up three times — the era of Incheon Hyundai’s WK League dominance had begun — but Park’s team did lift trophies in other domestic competitions.

In more recent years, Park has been active in the men’s game, serving as a coach at several clubs including K League 2 side Jeonnam Dragons. Park was part of the coaching staff when Changwon City FC won the men’s third division K3 League in 2022, and Park was honoured with the K3 League Coach of the Year award. He then took on a new challenge: managing Cheonan City in their first season as a professional club. After a tough year that saw Cheonan finish bottom of K League 2, Park’s spell at the club was ended by mutual consent in late 2023.

Following the departure of former manager Song Juhee, who was in charge at Gyeongju for five years, KHNP announced Park’s appointment in December. Gyeongju’s core squad members remain largely unchanged since 2025, but there are several new and returning faces at the club. Park signed two youngsters at the 2026 WK League draft, but he has further bolstered the team with big names such as Hong Hyeji and Jeong Yeonga. Jeong is one of several players on Gyeongju’s roster to have played for Park at Icheon Daekyo. Following the departure of popular Brazilian striker Bruna Pele, KHNP have also signed a third non-Korean player, bringing in Rebekah Valdez, who has significant experience in the American college soccer system as well as having played in the NWSL and Mexico’s Liga MX Femenil.

Expectations are high among Gyeongju fans — the club has come close to WK League glory on several occasions but are still yet to win a title. After an agonising loss in 2024’s championship playoff to eventual champions Suwon FC, KHNP had a poor season last year, and the change of manager was welcomed by supporters. After ten years away from the WK League, Park Namyeol is back — will he be able to lead another side to WK League glory?