It’s My Game: Park Youn-jeong’s to shape tomorrow’s talents

In the first episode of the Confederation’s “It’s My Game” campaign for 2025, the-AFC.com shines the spotlight on Park Youn-jeong, head coach of Korea Republic’s U20 women’s national team and recipient of the AFC Coach of the Year (Women) award at the AFC Annual Awards Seoul 2023.
 
Following her career as a centre-back for the likes of WK League sides Seoul WFC and Sejong Sportstoto, as well as Japan’s Albirex Niigata Ladies, Park turned her attention to coaching in 2011, starting with university teams before swiftly rising through the ranks to join the backroom staff of the Korea Republic U17 women’s national team in 2019.
 
Then, at only 35, Park made history as the youngest head coach in Korea Republic’s national team setup when she took the reins of the Taeguk Ladies’ U20 national team in November 2023, a challenge that has only pushed her to aim for more.
 
“Even though I received a lot of support, there were many who had negative perceptions because I was young and lacked the experience expected of a head coach,” said Park.
 
“But while it worried some people, for me, it was an opportunity to prove myself and show that I could do the job. Moreover, now with an accolade such as the AFC Coach of the Year, I am motivated to work even harder.”
 
The Pohang native put all speculation to rest when she kicked off her tenure with back-to-back victories against Uzbekistan in international friendlies ahead of the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™.
 
Park, who was also part of the coaching staff for Korea Republic at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Colombia 2022, went on to lead the East Asians to a fourth-place finish at the AFC U20 Women’s Asian Cup™ in Uzbekistan last year.
 
Looking back, she credits much of her managerial acumen to the lessons learned from her peers along the way, most notably at the FIFA Women’s World Cup Australia & New Zealand 2023, where she joined the technical staff only months before stepping into her new role.
 
“The coaches I worked with influenced me the most. I learned from them what to do and, at the same time, what not to do,” she explained. “Additionally, the lessons I learned while earning my coaching licences have also played a significant role in shaping my approach.
 
“Being part of the team at the (FIFA Women’s) World Cup, gave me the chance to directly observe the differences in how we treated the senior team compared to the youth teams on the pitch which helped me gain valuable insights into how to approach players effectively.”
 
One of the Continent’s most promising young coaches, Park is focused on long-term development—not just training the next generation of female footballers but also playing an active role in strengthening the youth and elite football ecosystems in Korea Republic, especially as the women’s game in Asia continues to evolve.
 
“Right now, I am determined to develop myself further as a coach while also ensuring that there are opportunities for growth for everyone working in women’s football,” she said.
 
“With the advent of the AFC Women’s Champions League™, there are plenty of opportunities for players to gain experience in competitive football.
 
“After all, it is a Continental contest that serves not only as a source of motivation, but also as a driving force behind the growth of domestic leagues. This, in turn, strengthens national teams, and I, for one, am eager to see the impact of the AFC Women’s Champions League™ in the long run.”
 
Launched on the AFC Women’s Football Day in 2018, the AFC’s “It’s My Game” campaign continues to honour inspiring women in football throughout the world’s largest Continent, reaching millions of people via the AFC’s digital channels.