Kang Sang-Woo

Experienced head

Ulsan Hyundai FC · 32 yrs

43.3%

Profile

Full nameSang-Woo Kang

PositionCentre-back

NationalityKorea Republic

Age32

Date of birth7 Oct 1993

BirthplaceSeoul

Height175 cm

Shirt number#13

ClubUlsan Hyundai FC

More about Kang Sang-Woo →

Centre-backalso played MID

Season stats

Full career & schedule →

Appearances

Goals

Assists

1132

Minutes

Domestic-league season · Ulsan Hyundai FC.

Performance data · by competition

Competition	Apps	Min	Match
K League 1	32	1132	6.7
AFC Champions League Elite	3	238	6.37
FIFA Club World Cup	3	163	6.72

Career

Full career & schedule →

Following his move to Ulsan Hyundai FC, Sang-Woo's current-season form is down 58% on last season (Season 33→14), while his Rating eased 30→17. His peak season for form remains 2024/25 (Season 33).

Domestic career

Season	Club	Apps	G	A	Match	RTG	Season
2026/27	Ulsan Hyundai FC	9	0	0	6.5	—	—
2025/26	Ulsan Hyundai FC · 3rd	32	0	0	6.7	17	14
2024/25	FC Seoul · 4th	35	1	2	7.17	30	33
2023/24	Beijing Guoan	26	8	5	7.16	—	—
2022/23	Beijing Guoan	31	4	7	7.06	—	—
2022/23	Pohang Steelers · 3rd	1	0	0	6.3	26	0

Domestic-league totals per season. RTG = Field Insider Rating (potential / ceiling); Season = age-blind form that year. 8 earlier seasons in the full career.

Korea Republic · international

Side	Apps	G
Korea Republic U23	1	0
Korea Republic U21	6	0
Korea Republic U20	5	0
South Korea	3	0

Career caps & goals — tournament breakdown in the full career.

Scout report

Experienced headCentral defender

Kang Sang-Woo is a 32-year-old central defender at Ulsan Hyundai FC, rated 17 overall by Field Insider's model, ranking 107th of 144 on scout potential in the K League 1. A seasoned veteran, he has been a fringe squad member this season (33.1% of available minutes). His defensive output reads 2.54 tackles, blocks and interceptions per 90. Below: strengths, watch-points, market-value outlook and the latest transfer news on Sang-Woo.

Judged on this season alone, Sang-Woo graded 14 — a solid campaign that ranks top 39% of the 31 centre-backs in the K League 1, on 4 clean sheets and 2.544 defensive actions per 90.

Year-on-year, that's a drop on last season (Season 33 → 14). Over the 5 seasons on record his form has drifted down, peaking in 2024/25.

On long-term talent our Rating reads 17, 21st of 31 of the 31 centre-backs in the K League 1. At 32 Sang-Woo is into the veteran stage, where the age curve weighs on the projection, and a market index of 2.2 reflects that trajectory.

From the career report

Read the full career report →

Past his 2024/25 peak — the recent trend is downward, so buyers are paying for what's left, not what was.

Peak: 2024/25Trending down4 clubs

Current potential21st of 31 centre-backs · K League 1 Current seasonTop 39% centre-backs · K League 112th-best centre-back in the K League 1107th in the K League 1 · potential21st-highest potential centre-back in the K League 1

Ratingi

21st of 31 centre-backs

13.6

Seasoni

below regular-starter level

33.1%

Minutes

limited game time

2.54

Def. actions / 90

moderate defensive volume

Output in context · Ulsan Hyundai FC finished 3rd of 6 · a mid-table side

2.54

Def. / 90

Tackles

Interceptions

Clean sheets

2.54 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90 — moderate defensive volume, with 4 clean sheets across 32 appearances.

Watch points

Game time. Only 33.1% of available minutes — needs a settled run to prove the level.
Age curve. At 32, both level and resale value are on the downslope.
Level. Rates below a nailed-on top-tier starter on our model.

Outlook

With a Rating of 17, Sang-Woo carries the 21st-highest potential of the centre-backs in the K League 1 of 31. Defensively he reads as moderate defensive volume (2.54 tackles, blocks & interceptions per 90). Veteran phase — a short-term, lower-fee proposition as both level and value decline (0.8× and falling).

Generated from Field Insider's rating model · AI-written analysis to follow.

Per 90 & availability

Minutes played %33.1%

Available fixtures38 of 38

Goals / 900

Assists / 900

Goal contribution / 900

Defensive actions / 902.544

Player flow

Goal involvements0

Shot conversion %0

Shot accuracy %50

Dribble success %55.6

Cards / 900.318

Foul involvement / 902.465

Season-by-season progression

Rating (potential)Season (form)

Value & potential by age

Market valueRating

Solid = now · dashed = projected

The gold line is market value — an index (not €) blending rating, age and league. It climbs through the early 20s, peaks around ages 23–27 (~6), then tapers with age. At 32, Sang-Woo sits on 2.2, past its peak and easing. The blue line is Sang-Woo's projected Rating — 17 today — recomputed at each age, so it follows the same rise-and-fall as a career matures and declines. Solid = up to today; dashed = projected.

Season statistics

Bars = where he ranks among centre-backs in the K League 1 with 600+ minutes this season.

Shooting

Goals0

Shots on target2

Shots4

Passing

Assists0

Chances created8

Passes487

Possession

Successful dribbles5

Dribble success55.6%

Duels won54

Duels won %57.4%

Fouls won18

Defending

Tackles21

Interceptions9

Blocks2

Fouls committed13

Penalties conceded1—

Yellow/red cards

Yellow cards4

Red cards0

Transfer history

Ulsan Hyundai FC2024/25 – nowFree Transfer

FC Seoul2023/24 – 2024/25Free

Beijing Guoan2021/22 – 2023/24

Pohang Steelers(back from loan)2020/21 – 2021/22

Gimcheon Sangmu FC(on loan)2018/19 – 2020/21

Pohang Steelersuntil 2018/19

About Kang Sang-Woo

Sang-Woo Kang is a 32-year-old centre-back who plays for Ulsan Hyundai FC, born on October 7, 1993 in Seoul, standing 175 cm tall. He is from Korea Republic. Ulsan Hyundai FC currently sit 3rd of 6 in the K League 1.

This season

In the current season, Kang Sang-Woo has made 32 appearances with 0 goals and 0 assists across 1,132 minutes, averaging a 6.58 match rating over his last 10 rated games, with 4 yellow cards. His season has spanned the K League 1, the AFC Champions League Elite and the FIFA Club World Cup. Though primarily a centre-back, he has also lined up in midfield this season.

When Kang Sang-Woo plays, Ulsan Hyundai FC's record this season is 4W-7D-11L — and his match ratings average 6.72 at home against 6.55 on the road.

Recent matches

February 18, 2026: 0-0 draw away at SHANGHAI SIPG (80 minutes, 6.7 rating)
February 11, 2026: 1-2 loss at home vs Melbourne City (68 minutes, 6.5 rating)
December 9, 2025: 1-3 loss away at Machida Zelvia (90 minutes, 5.9 rating)
November 1, 2025: 1-3 loss away at FC Anyang (82 minutes, 6.3 rating)
October 26, 2025: 1-1 draw at home vs Daegu FC (90 minutes, 6.3 rating)
October 18, 2025: 2-0 win at home vs Gwangju FC (90 minutes, 7.2 rating)
October 5, 2025: 0-3 loss away at Gimcheon Sangmu FC (21 minutes, 6.5 rating)
September 27, 2025: 1-1 draw away at Daegu FC (45 minutes, 6.9 rating)
September 21, 2025: 0-0 draw at home vs FC Anyang (72 minutes, 7.3 rating)
September 13, 2025: 1-1 draw away at Pohang Steelers (90 minutes, 6.2 rating)

Field Insider's view

Field Insider currently rates Kang Sang-Woo at 17 with a Season form score of 13.6, ranking 107th of 144 centre-backs in the K League 1. See the full scout report for strengths, watch-points and the market-value outlook.

Career

Across 13 recorded seasons, Kang Sang-Woo has totalled 324 club appearances with 33 goals and 36 assists for 5 different clubs. His busiest campaign came in 2021/22, with 37 appearances for Pohang Steelers.

Kang Sang-Woo's career has also included time at FC Seoul, Beijing Guoan, Pohang Steelers and Gimcheon Sangmu FC.

On the international stage, Kang Sang-Woo has represented Korea Republic U23, Korea Republic U21, Korea Republic U20, South Korea — 15 caps in our records.

Transfer news

No transfer news found for this player.

Profile

Season stats

Performance data · by competition

Career

Scout report

Output in context · Ulsan Hyundai FC finished 3rd of 6 · a mid-table side

Watch points