Will join Seagulls in July 

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Brighton have announced the signing of South Korean winger Do-young Yun from K League 1 side Daejeon Hana Citizen. This marks the first South Korean player in the club’s history and follows the recent signing of his countrymen Min-hyeok Yang by Tottenham. Yun, born in 2006, becomes the second South Korean player to join the Premier League this year. The Seagulls have become renowned for unearthing top talent across the globe and will be hoping Yun can follow in the footsteps of the likes of Moisés Caicedo, Alexis Mac Allister and Kaoru Mitoma.

Utilising the K League’s ‘semi-pro’ policy for U18 players, he made his debut for Daejeon Hana Citizen last year and quickly became a key asset for the team. The K League mandates that each team must field at least two players under the age of 22 in every match. Thanks to his young age, he not only met this requirement but also played a pivotal role as a core member of the team.

How highly rated is Do-young Yun in South Korea?

Yun may not have built a long career in professional football internationally or domestically, but since joining Daejeon U15 in 2019, he has steadily gained recognition in South Korea’s youth football scene. While his impressive performances were somewhat overshadowed by the explosive debut season of Yang, Yun was a regular starter in the second half of last season, showing his ability to break through defences with his dribbling skills in attack.

Alongside Yang, Yun has steadily built a reputation as a promising talent for the future of South Korean football since his debut. He scored one goal and provided three assists in 19 matches last season, but this was due to Daejeon Hana Citizen’s struggle against relegation, with the team facing significant challenges. Nevertheless, Yun was one of the players that Daejeon fans were most excited about last term. Having already scored 15 goals in 33 appearances in total for the U17 and U20 South Korea national teams, Yun is highly regarded as a key future prospect for South Korean football. Additionally, he played in every match of the AFC U20 Asian Cup held in Shenzhen, China in February, helping South Korea secure a ticket to the FIFA U20 World Cup 2025. With South Korea’s strong recent performances in the U20 World Cup, he is expected to be the key player for that squad.

What type of player is Do-young Yun?

Yun is a very skilful dribbler. He excels in navigating tight spaces with precise touches. In the physically demanding and often intense environment of K League 1, where intense physical contact is frequent, Yun enjoys using his footwork to draw fouls or play small delicate passes, showing his ability to manouevre through defenders. Japanese player Mitoma, who is already making an impact at Brighton, is also known for his strong dribbling skills and the young South Korean has drawn comparisons with Mitoma. With the right development, Yun has the ability to take his game to the next level.