Jeonnam Dragons strengthened their U22 resource pool by signing 2003-born central midfielder Park Sang-jun from Ulsan Hyundai.

Park Sang-jun attended Gwanghui Middle School and Jungdong High School before enrolling at Ulsan University in 2022. He played as a starter from his freshman year, serving as a focal point in the build-up play, and gained prominence by being selected for the 21st Denso Cup Mito Student Football Championship in 2023, starting in the match and playing the full time.

After making a noticeable impact at the college level, Park Sang-jun joined Ulsan Hyundai in 2024 and participated in one match in the Korean Cup. However, he faced difficulties in getting playtime as a rookie in his first professional year with Ulsan, the defending champion of K League 1, and was loaned to Gyeongju Hanwha in the K3 League in July of the same year. He proved his potential by contributing to the team's third-place finish in the league with a record of one goal in 12 matches.

Park Sang-jun is a versatile player capable of playing various positions, including defensive midfielder, central midfielder, and central defender. He shows strengths in quick build-up play based on his excellent soccer intelligence, smart game management, and precise left-footed kicking ability, and he also excels in man-marking and covering spaces using his physique of 181cm and 75kg. He is expected to fit well into the tactical approach of head coach Kim Hyun-seok, which emphasizes strong pressing and quick transitions.

There is an unexpected connection between Park Sang-jun and Head Coach Kim Hyun-seok. While serving as the coach of Ulsan University in 2021, Coach Kim had his eye on Park Sang-jun, who was playing for Jungdong High School, and selected him directly. However, he moved on to become the general secretary of Chungnam Asan FC in early 2022, so they could not establish a mentor-mentee relationship. Later, having observed Park Sang-jun's growth, Coach Kim called him to join him at Jeonnam.

This signing is expected to be a significant turning point in the management of Jeonnam's U22 resources. This season, Jeonnam utilized forward Jeong Gang-min and goalkeeper Seong Yoon-soo as U22 players, and after the loan acquisition of defender Ahn Jae-min, Jeong Gang-min and Ahn Jae-min were mainly used. Although forward Son Geon-ho received opportunities due to Jeong Gang-min's injury, overall, the pool of U22 resources was limited in the attacking position. Thus, the addition of Park Sang-jun, who can play in the central role, is expected to provide the team with a new tactical option.

Meanwhile, Park Sang-jun, who is currently staying in the United States to participate in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup, returned to Korea after completing a medical test at the designated club hospital, Suncheon ES Hospital, and signed the contract. Park Sang-jun expressed his feelings about joining by saying, "It is an honor to come to a prestigious club like Jeonnam Dragons, and I am grateful to be able to work with Coach Kim Hyun-seok. If given the opportunity to play, I will do my best to contribute to the team's victory."

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