Kimcheon Sangmu U18's Lim Yoonho to Represent South Korea on the Asian Stage

by Kim Ihwan

Published 24 Apr.2026 16:45(KST)

Lim Yoonho (Gyeongbuk Beauty Art High School) of the Kimcheon Sangmu Professional Football Club U18 team will represent South Korea at the "2026 AFC U17 Asian Cup."

Lim Yoonho is drawing attention as a next-generation talent fostered by the Kimcheon Sangmu youth system, possessing solid fundamentals, outstanding left-footed skills, and strong leadership.

Born on June 13, 2009, Lim Yoonho primarily plays as a left fullback but is also a versatile player capable of covering the left wing when needed.

In particular, he is recognized for his impressive left-footed kicking ability. One of Lim's greatest strengths is his long passes from the left side to the opposite flank. After developing at Kimcheon Sangmu U15, he was called up to the U18 team, and in 2024, while still registered with the U15, he proved his competitiveness by being promoted to the U17 team for the K League Youth Championship to play against older players.

Furthermore, during his third year with the U15 team, he served as captain, demonstrating not only his performance but also his leadership abilities in leading the team.

Lim Yoonho has a unique mindset as he faces this new opportunity.

He expressed his feelings, saying, "Since my first year, I have focused solely on this tournament, and now that I have the opportunity to represent South Korea at the Asian Cup, I am truly honored."

He continued, "Since I am representing my country, I will do my absolute best to win. I want to play in as many matches as possible and showcase impressive and exciting performances."

He also did not forget to express his gratitude.

Lim Yoonho said, "First of all, I am truly grateful to my parents, as well as everyone who has supported me so far, including the coaches, staff, teammates, and the club. Thank you for always cheering for me. I will not be satisfied with where I am now and will strive to become an even better player and repay everyone with great performances."

U18 player Yoonho Lim of Gimcheon Sangmu Professional Football Club (CEO Jaehah Lee) [Photo by Gimcheon Sangmu]

Kimcheon Sangmu U18 head coach Park Taemin recalled, "When I called Yoonho up to the U18 squad, it was not just because of his technical skills. Despite his young age, he had excellent game understanding, impressive decision-making, and displayed confidence on the pitch. I saw great potential that he could continue to develop even while competing with older players."

He added, "From coaching him directly, I've found that Yoonho not only has talent but, most importantly, has a great attitude. He approaches training with sincerity and consistently works hard to improve his weaknesses. On the field, he plays actively and boldly, but at the same time, he knows how to commit himself to the team. This is a significant strength. I believe that as he gains more experience, he has a high potential to grow into an even better player."

Finally, he offered words of encouragement: "I believe the effort and journey Yoonho has made so far are already great assets. If he continues to learn with humility and challenge himself with confidence, he can fully compete on bigger stages. I am always cheering for him, so I hope he stays strong and continues on his path."

The Kimcheon Sangmu youth team is steadily nurturing promising talents through a systematic development system, with Lim Yoonho being a representative example of this progress. As Lim, who combines reliable defense, bold forward play, precise left-footed kicks, and leadership, takes the stage representing South Korea, anticipation grows over what kind of performances he will deliver.

Meanwhile, the South Korean U17 national team, included in Group C, will face the UAE on May 6, Vietnam on May 10, and Yemen on May 13 in the group stage.