Jin Suk-hee (; born 9 July 1978) is a South Korean former footballer and coach. She played as a defender for INI Steel and the South Korea women's national football team. Jin is manager of the women's football academy at Ulsan College.

Club career As a youth, Jin played for Hyundai Girls' High School. In 1996, she scored two of the team's five goals in the semi-final of the National High Schools' Football Championship. Hyundai lost to Wiryesang High School in the final but Jin received the tournament's top goalscorer award for her four goals in total. Jin played for Ulsan College for two years before joining INI Steel in 1999.

Jin was a key player for INI Steel at a time when they dominated South Korea's women's football scene. Early in her first season at the club, she scored against her former team, Ulsan College, in the final of the Queen's Cup, helping to seal a second consecutive title for INI Steel. In the same year, the club was also victorious at the President's Cup, Korea Expressway Corporation Cup, and in both the spring and fall editions of the Korean Women's League.

In 2003 Jin scored two of INI Steel's five goals against Daekyo Kangaroos in the final of the Unification Cup, helping her team win their third consecutive title. Jin was club captain for a time, leading her team to victory in the 2004 KWFF Fall Women's Football Championship and the 2004 Queen's Cup, where she was also named MVP. She was the top goalscorer as her team, by now known as Hyundai Steel, lifted the trophy at the 2006 National Women's Football Championship, and received the best defender award at the 2007 Unification Cup, in which Hyundai finished as runners-up.

International career Jin made her international debut for South Korea as a teenager at the 1995 AFC Women's Championship. She scored her first international goal in 1998 against Japan in a friendly match ahead of the 1998 Asian Games. Jin provided an assist against China at the 2001 Toto Cup to help deliver the South Korean women's team's first ever victory in an international tournament.

As a regular fixture of the national team in the late 1990s and early 2000s, Jin also played at the AFC Women's Championship in 1999, 2001 and 2003. At the 2003 tournament, South Korea finished in third place to qualify for the FIFA Women's World Cup for the first time.

She was part of the South Korean team at the 2003 World Cup. In 2005, she was part of the squad that lifted the trophy at the first EAFF Women's Football Championship, beating China and North Korea for the first time in 15 years. Jin wore the captain's armband at the 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup in Australia, where she scored her second international goal in a group stage match against Myanmar.

Coaching career When the WK League launched in 2009, Jin was a coach with military side Sangmu, at the time the only team in the league with an all-female staff. While coaching at Sangmu, Jin made a surprise appearance at the 2012 WK League all-star match.

In 2024 Jin was appointed manager of the women's football academy at her alma mater, Ulsan College. As manager, Jin has emphasised the role of analysis and direct feedback, notably bringing analyst Kim Bom-bom into her coaching team. She led Ulsan to victory at the 2025 KWFF Fall Women's Football Championship, and received the Best Manager award at the tournament.

Career statistics

International

+Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSouth Korea199540199610199700199851199980200040200150200210020031802004402005402006101Total732

Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Jin Suk-hee goal.

+List of international goals scored by Jin Suk-hee No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result CompetitionRef.126 October 1998 Misari Field, Hanam, South Korea Japan1-01-1Friendly 2 22 July 2006 Hindmarsh Stadium, Adelaide, Australia 2–0 3–1 2006 AFC Women's Asian Cup

Honours

INI Steel

Korean Women's League Champions: 1999–1, 1999–2, Runners-up: 2000–1, 2001 National Women's Football Championship Champions: 2004, 2006, 2008 Runners-up: 2002 KWFF Spring Women's Football Championship Champions: 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 Runners-up: 2002, 2008 KWFF Fall Women's Football Championship Champions: 2004, 2005, 2006 Runners-up: 2002, 2008 Queen's Cup Champions: 1999, 2000, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 Runners-up: 2001 President's Cup Champions: 1999, 2001, 2002 Runners-up: 2000 Unification Cup Champions: 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006 Runners-up: 2004, 2007, 2008 Korea Expressway Corporation National Women's Football Championship Champions: 1999, 2000, 2001 National Sports Festival Champions: 2001, 2002, 2003 Runners-up: 2004

South Korea

2001 Toto Cup champions 2003 AFC Women's Championship third place 2005 EAFF Women's Cup champions

Individual

2004 Queen's Cup MVP 2006 National Women's Football Championship top goalscorer 2007 Unification Cup best defender 2024 KWFF Spring Women's Football Championship excellent manager (university team) 2025 KWFF Fall Women's Football Championship best manager (university team)

References

External links

Jin Sook-hee - Korea Football Association