WK League News

WK League veteran Choi Somi last month announced her retirement from football after finishing her career with a brief spell with Serbian side Spartak Subotica. Choi made over 200 WK League appearances for three clubs across her thirteen seasons in the league, and was an important member of Suwon FC’s 2024 title-winning squad before taking up the captaincy in 2025.

Born in 1992, Choi developed an early interest in sport, competing in athletics as an elementary school student. Her talent caught the attention of a football coach, who suggested she try the sport, and so took up football as a third grader, playing competitively for Seongdeok Elementary School. Initially playing as a striker, she switched to defence while playing for Maehol Middle School in Osan.

Choi then attended Gangil Girls’ High School in Gangneung, her skills and dedication to the sport also attracting the attention of national team coaches. She attended South Korea youth team training camps and later went on to represent the country at the under-20 level, making two appearances at the 2012 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup, and playing at two Summer Universiade tournaments while playing for Yeoju University in domestic competitions.

Choi was selected by reigning champions Goyang Daekyo in the first round of the 2013 WK League draft. She made her league debut in April 2013, appearing in Daekyo’s Round 2 clash with Sportstoto, and went on to make 30 appearances for the club during her two years there.

In 2015, Choi made the move to Sportstoto, at the time based in Daejeon, though the team would relocate to Gumi by the time Choi left in 2019. She soon established herself as a regular in the team, making 18 league appearances in her first season at Sportstoto, and going on to play in all of the club’s WK League matches for three consecutive seasons from 2016-2018.

Known since her youth days as a hardworking player determined to take on feedback and put in the hours necessary to improve her skills, Choi had by this point developed into a reliable and consistent squad member, but this ever-present could also produce memorable moments. Notably, in 2016, she scored the opening goal in a 3-1 win against Incheon Hyundai that saw Sportstoto progress to the WK League playoff for the first time. Choi was also a key player at the 2017 National Sports Festival, at which Sportstoto beat WK League powerhouse Incheon Hyundai in the final to bring home the club’s first ever silverware.

Ahead of the 2020 season, Choi joined Suwon Facilities & Management Corporation (Suwon FMC), the club that would later merge with the existing Suwon FC men’s team. Now with a few years of league experience under her belt, Choi quickly became key to Suwon’s defence, especially when teammate Eo Heejin was ruled out of the side with a long-term injury at the start of the 2021 season. The following year, Choi reached the milestone of 200 WK League appearances.

By now a pillar of Suwon’s defence and one of the senior members of the squad, Choi played a significant role in the club’s 2024 WK League victory. Her composure and reliability contributed to the team’s overall stability. While she regularly used her height and physicality to her advantage in defensive duels, she could also be relied on to score a couple of goals each season, often from set pieces.

After lifting the trophy with Suwon in 2024, Choi was named club captain for the 2025 season. She led the side during a difficult period, as Suwon struggled to replicate the success of the previous year following personnel changes during the off-season. Respected by her teammates and loved by Suwon fans, Choi wore the captain’s armband as the club began its 2026-27 AFC Women’s Champions League campaign and qualified for the knockout stage of the competition.

The news that Choi was set to join Serbian side Spartak Subotica came as a surprise to many supporters who had been expecting to see her see out the rest of her playing days at Suwon. Choi joined Spartak in February of this year alongside fellow Koreans An Sebin and Sim Hyojeong. After a few months at the club, Choi announced her retirement from football last month with an Instagram post featuring photographs of some of the highlights of her career, including the National Sports Festival victory with Gumi Sportstoto and WK League glory with Suwon FC.

See below for a full translation of Choi Somi’s retirement announcement.

Hello. This is women’s footballer Choi Somi!
I’m putting a full stop at the end of 24 years as a footballer and retiring!
I want to express my gratitude to all the teachers and colleagues who have been with me, from when I started playing football until now.
I have been so thankful for all the support you have given me throughout my football career.
I will cherish the happy moments in my heart and aim to be someone who gives as much, if not more, support and love as I have received so far 🙂
I feel grateful to be able to finish my playing career without any major injuries or surgery, and I will strive to take all the life experiences I have learned through football with me as I move on to a new chapter!!
And, I will always support women’s football!! Looking ahead, please continue to show love for women’s football. I wish you all health in both body and mind.