Kim Byung-ji (; born 8 April 1970) is a former football goalkeeper who played for the South Korea national team as well as several clubs in the K League.
Playing career Kim spent 24 seasons as a professional player from 1992 to 2015. He kept 229 clean sheets and scored three goals while playing a record 706 games in the K League and Korean League Cup.
Kim was selected for the South Korean squad for the 1998 FIFA World Cup. South Korea lost 5–0 to the Netherlands in its second match, and South Korean players couldn't avoid journalists' criticisms after the defeat. Furthermore, South Korea's manager Cha Bum-kun was sacked, although the tournament was ongoing. However, Kim struggled in the Netherlands' 17 shots on target, and became the only player to receive acclaim despite conceding five goals.
Style of play Kim was a sweeper-keeper who could show clearances outside the penalty area at a rapid pace. He also had great reflexes, and was skilled in making super saves. However, his excessively active personality sometimes resulted in eccentric plays. In a match of the 2001 Lunar New Year Cup against Paraguay, he was deprived of the ball after he suddenly tried to dribble, and embarrassed Guus Hiddink, the former South Korea's manager. Kim formed a strong rivalry with Lee Woon-jae in the K League and the national team, and also competed with him for the position as a starter in the 2002 FIFA World Cup. Hiddink agonised over the choice of a goalkeeper until the start of the tournament, but selected Lee because of Kim's eccentric play in the Lunar New Year Cup.
After retirement Kim is currently working as a YouTuber in the "Kkong-byung-ji-tv", his YouTube channel, after his retirement in 2015.
On 27 January 2021, Kim was appointed a vice-president of the Korea Football Association (KFA).
On 28 May 2022, Kim signed with entertainment company Angry Dogs.
Kim became the president of Gangwon FC on 15 December 2022, and he resigned from KFA the next month to concentrate on Gangwon.
On 20 October 2024, he played as a goalkeeper for Team Spear at the Nexon Icons Match, which invited retired legendary players.
On 9 April 2025, Kim was once again appointed vice-president of the KFA by president Chung Mong-gyu, returning to the association.
Career statistics Club + Appearances and goals by club, season and competition Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps GoalsSangmu FC (draft)1990Semipro League????——??1991Semipro League??????—??1992Semipro League??????—??Total??????—??Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i1992K League60—40—1001993K League210—40—2501994K League240—30—2701995K League280—70—3501996K League2700050??3001997K League1302070??2201998K League2210030??2511999K League1203080—2302000K League2612051—332 Total 179270461??2323Pohang Steelers2001K League2204030—2902002K League2104000—2502003K League43000——4302004K League27000120—3902005K League24030120—390 Total 1370110270—1750FC Seoul2006K League27030130—4302007K League26030120—4102008K League501010—70 Total 58070260—910Gyeongnam FC2009K League2602030—3102010K League2902060—3702011K League3000030—3302012K League37040——410 Total 122080120—1420Jeonnam Dragons2013K League 136000——3602014K League 138010——3802015K League 127040——270 Total 10105000—1060 Career total59723801111??7463
International +Appearances and goals by national team and year National team Year Apps GoalsSouth Korea199540199613019971001998160199930200040200120200280200810Career total610
Filmography Television Year Title Role Note(s) 2021VincenzoYouth football team coach2021–presentKick a GoalHimself 2022 Steel BallHimself (host)
Honours Player Sangmu FC Korean Semi-professional League (Spring): 1992 Korean Semi-professional League (Autumn): 1991
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i K League 1: 1996 Korean FA Cup runner-up: 1998 Korean League Cup: 1995, 1998
Pohang Steelers Korean FA Cup runner-up: 2001, 2002
FC Seoul Korean League Cup: 2006
Individual Korean Semi-professional League (Autumn) Best Player: 1991 K League All-Star: 1995, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2013, 2015 K League 1 Best XI: 1996, 1998, 2005, 2007 K League All-Star Game Most Valuable Player: 2000 K League Hall of Fame: 2025
Records K League all-time appearance leader: 708 appearances K League all-time clean sheet leader: 229 clean sheets
Television personality + List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Kim Byung-ji Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result SBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Leader of the Year Award Kick a Goal
References
External links
Kim Byung-ji – National Team Stats at KFA