Korea Republic's all-time FIFA World Cup statistics
In this continuously-updated article, we take a look at Korea Republic's all-time FIFA World Cup statistics.
All-time record across 12 FIFA World Cup appearances (1954–2026)
| Confederation | AFC |
| Best FIFA World Cup achievement | Fourth place (2002) |
| FIFA World Cup appearances (inc 2026) | 12 (1954, 1986, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2018, 2022, 2026) |
| First FIFA World Cup | 1954 (group stage) |
| Most recent FIFA World Cup | 2022 (round of 16) |
| Current sequence of successive qualifications (inc 2026) | 11 (since 1986) |
| FIFA World Cup hosts | 2002 co-hosts (fourth place) |
Record by tournament
| Year - Host | Result | Head coach | Top scorer | P | W | D | L | F | A | GD |
| 1930 - URU | Did not participate |
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| 1934 - ITA | Did not participate |
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| 1938 - FRA | Did not participate |
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| 1950 - BRA | Did not participate |
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| 1954 - SUI | Group stage | Yong Shik Kim, KOR | N/A | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 | -16 |
| 1958 - SWE | Did not participate |
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| 1962 - CHI | Did not qualify |
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| 1966 - ENG | Did not participate |
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| 1970 - MEX | Did not qualify |
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| 1974 - FRG | Did not qualify |
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| 1978 - ARG | Did not qualify |
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| 1982 - ESP | Did not qualify |
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| 1986 - MEX | Group stage | Jung Nam Kim, KOR | Four players (1) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 7 | -3 |
| 1990 - ITA | Group stage | Hoe Taik Lee, KOR | Kwan Hwangbo (1) | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 6 | -5 |
| 1994 - USA | Group stage | Ho Kim, KOR | Myungbo Hong (2) | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 5 | -1 |
| 1998 - FRA | Group stage | Bum Kun Cha, KOR, KIM Pyung Seok, KOR | Seok Ju Ha, Sang Chul Yoo (1) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 9 | -7 |
| 2002 - JPN/KOR | Fourth place | Guus Hiddink, NED | Jung Hwan Ahn (2) | 7 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 8 | 6 | 2 |
| 2006 - GER | Group stage | Dick Advocaat, NED | Jung Hwan Ahn, Chun Soo Lee, Jisung Park (1) | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 4 | -1 |
| 2010 - RSA | Round of 16 | Jungmoo Huh, KOR | Chungyong Lee, Jung Soo Lee (2) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 6 | 8 | -2 |
| 2014 - BRA | Group stage | Myungbo Hong, KOR | Jacheol Koo, Keunho Lee, Heungmin Son (1) | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 | -3 |
| 2018 - RUS | Group stage | Taeyong Shin, KOR | Heungmin Son (2) | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 0 |
| 2022 - QAT | Round of 16 | Paulo Bento, POR | Guesung Cho (2) | 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 8 | -3 |
| OVERALL RECORD | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 39 | 78 | -39 | |||
P = Played · W = Won · D = Drawn · L = Lost · F = Goals for · A = Goals against · GD = Goal difference
All-time World Cup record
| Phase | P | W | D | L | GF | GA | GD |
| Overall | 38 | 7 | 10 | 21 | 39 | 78 | -39 |
| Group stage | 32 | 6 | 9 | 17 | 33 | 67 | -34 |
| Knockout phase | 6 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 11 | -5 |
GF = Goals for · GA = Goals against · GD = Goal difference
General team records
| Biggest win | 2-0: vs Poland (group stage, 04/06/2002) 2-0: vs Greece (group stage, 12/06/2010) 2-0: vs Germany (group stage, 27/06/2018) |
| Biggest defeat | 0-9 vs Hungary (group stage, 17/06/1954) |
| Highest scoring draw | 2-2: twice, most recently, vs Nigeria (group stage, 22/06/2010) |
| Highest scoring match | 9 goals: Hungary 9-0 Korea Republic (group stage, 17/06/1954) |
| Most goals scored in a match | 2 goals: 13 times, most recently, Korea Republic 2-1 Portugal (group stage, 02/12/2022) |
| Most goals conceded in a match | 9 goals: 0-9 vs Hungary (group stage, 17/06/1954) |
| Most goals scored at a FIFA World Cup | 8: 2002 (7 matches) |
| Fewest goals scored at a FIFA World Cup | 0: 1954 (2 matches) |
| Most goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup | 16: 1954 (2 matches) |
| Fewest goals conceded at a FIFA World Cup | 3: 2018 (3 matches) |
Streaks
| Successive wins | 2: 14/06/2002 - 18/06/2002 |
| Successive defeats | 4: twice, most recently, 22/06/2014 - 23/06/2018 |
| Successive draws | 2: 17/06/1994 - 23/06/1994 |
| Successive matches without a defeat | 6: 25/06/1998 - 22/06/2002 |
| Successive matches without a win | 14: 17/06/1954 - 25/06/1998 |
| Successive matches with a goal scored | 6: 12/06/2010 - 22/06/2014 |
| Successive matches without scoring | 2: three times, most recently, 26/06/2014 - 18/06/2018 |
| Successive clean sheets | 2: 27/06/2018 - 24/11/2022 |
Knockout records
Round by round WL record *ties won or lost
Round of 16 - W1 L2
Quarter-finals - W1 L0
Semi-finals - W0 L1
Third-place - W0 L1
Extra time
| Korea Republic vs Italy | 2-1 AET (1-1, 0-1) | 2002, round of 16 |
| Spain vs Korea Republic | 0-0 AET 3-5 PSO | 2002, quarter-finals |
Penalty shoot-outs
W1 L0
W 5-3 vs Spain (2002, quarter-finals)
Player records
Most FIFA World Cup participations
4 - Myungbo Hong (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
4 - Sun Hong Hwang (1990, 1994, 1998, 2002)
4 - Woonjae Lee (1994, 2002, 2006, 2010)
Most FIFA World Cup matches
16 - Myungbo Hong (3-1990; 3-1994; 3-1998; 7-2002)
14 - Jisung Park (7-2002; 3-2006; 4-2010)
12 - Youngpyo Lee (5-2002; 3-2006; 4-2010)
11 - Woonjae Lee (1-1994; 7-2002; 3-2006)
11 - Namil Kim (5-2002; 3-2006; 3-2010)
10 - Sun Hong Hwang (2-1990; 3-1994; 5-2002)
10 - Jung Hwan Ahn (7-2002; 3-2006)
10 - Sang Chul Yoo (3-1998; 7-2002)
10 - Taeyoung Kim (3-1998; 7-2002)
10 - Chun Soo Lee (7-2002; 3-2006)
10 - Heungmin Son (3-2014; 3-2018; 4-2022)
10 - Younggwon Kim (3-2014; 3-2018; 4-2022)
Most FIFA World Cup goals scored
3 - Jung Hwan Ahn (2-2002; 1-2006)
3 - Jisung Park (1-2002; 1-2006; 1-2010)
3 - Heungmin Son (1-2014; 2-2018)
2 - Guesung Cho (2-2022)
2 - Myungbo Hong (2-1994)
2 - Sun Hong Hwang (1-1994; 1-2002)
2 - Jung Soo Lee (2-2010)
2 - Sang Chul Yoo (1-1998; 1-2002)
2 - Younggwon Kim (1-2018; 1-2022)
Most FIFA World Cup tournaments with a goal
3 - Jisung Park (2002, 2006, 2010)
Youngest player to make an appearance at a FIFA World Cup
19y 52d - Donggook Lee vs Netherlands (20/06/1998)
19y 226d - Jong Soo Ko vs Mexico (13/06/1998)
20y 136d - Joo Sung Kim vs Argentina (02/06/1986)
20y 163d - Seungwoo Lee vs Sweden (18/06/2018)
20y 214d - Jong Boo Kim vs Bulgaria (05/06/1986)
Youngest goalscorer at a FIFA World Cup
20y 214d - Jong Boo Kim vs Bulgaria (05/06/1986)
21y 109d - Jisung Park vs Portugal (14/06/2022)
21y 349d - Heungmin Son vs Algeria (22/06/2014)
21y 350d - Chungyong Lee vs Argentina (17/06/2010)
23y 129d - Chong Gug Song vs Türkiye (29/06/2002)
Oldest player to make an appearance at a FIFA World Cup
37y 169d - Kook Chin Yung vs Türkiye (20/06/1954)
37y 121d - Nam Sik Chung vs Hungary (17/06/1954)
36y 117d - Byung Dae Min vs Hungary (17/06/1954)
35y 89d - Jincheul Choi vs Switzerland (23/06/2006)
34y 94d - Jong Kap Li vs Turkiye (20/06/1954)
Oldest goalscorer at a FIFA World Cup
33y 325d - Sun Hong Hwang vs Poland (04/06/2002)
32y 278d KIM Younggwon vs Portugal (02/12/2022)
32y 120d PARK Chang Sun vs Argentina (02/06/1986)
31y 148d HUH Jungmoo vs Italy (10/06/1986)
30y 229d YOO Sang Chul vs Poland (04/06/2002)
Most consecutive appearances with a goal
2 - Heungmin Son (23/06/2018 - 27/06/2018)
2 - Sun Hong Hwang (27/06/1994 - 04/06/2002)
2 - Sang Chul Yoo (25/06/1998 - 04/06/2002)
Most goals in a match
2 - Guesung Cho vs Ghana (2022, group stage)
Hat-tricks
N/A
Fastest goal scored
6' 13'' - Jung Soo Lee vs Greece (2010, group stage)
9' LEE Eul Yong vs Türkiye (2002, third-place play-off)
26' HWANG Sun Hong vs Poland (2002, group stage)
Most clean sheets (GK)
3 - Woonjae Lee (3-2002)
Red cards
Dukyeo Yoon vs Uruguay (1990, group stage)
Seok Ju Ha vs Mexico (1998, group stage)
Coaches
Most final tournaments
1 - 12 coaches
Most matches
7 - Guus Hiddink, NED (7-2002)
4 - Jungmoo Huh, KOR (4-2010)
4 - Paulo Bento, POR (4-2022)
Most wins
3 - Guus Hiddink, NED (3-2002)
Youngest coach
39y 276d - Pyung Seok Kim vs Belgium (25/06/1998)
43y 125d - Jung Nam Kim vs Argentina (02/06/1986)
43y 244d - Hoe Taik Lee vs Belgium (12/06/1990)
Oldest coach
58y 269d - Dick Advocaat vs Switzerland (23/06/2006)
55y 233d - Guus Hiddink vs Turkiye (29/06/2002)
55y 164d - Jungmoo Huh vs Uruguay (26/06/2010)
Penalties taken
| Min. | Span | Player | Date | Match | Execution | Reason |
| 39' | 1H | Eul Yong Lee, KOR | 10/06/2002 | KOR vs USA | not scored | Saved |
| 4' | 1H | Jung Hwan Ahn, KOR | 18/06/2002 | KOR vs ITA | not scored | Saved |
Penalties faced
| Min. | Span | Goalkeeper | Opposition player | Team | Date | Match | Execution |
| 69' | 2H | Sungryong Jung | Yakubu Ayegbeni | Nigeria | 22/06/2010 | NGA vs KOR | Conceded |
| 65' | 2H | Hyeonwoo Jo | Andreas Granqvist | Sweden | 18/06/2018 | SWE vs KOR | Conceded |
| 26' | 1H | Hyeonwoo Jo | Carlos Vela | Mexico | 23/06/2018 | KOR vs MEX | Conceded |
| 13' | 1H | Seunggyu Kim | Neymar | Brazil | 05/12/2022 | BRA vs KOR | Conceded |
Complete World Cup match results
| Tournament | Date | Match |
| 1954 | 17/06/1954 | Hungary 9-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Zurich-SUI) |
| 1954 | 20/06/1954 | Türkiye 7-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Geneva-SUI) |
| 1986 | 02/06/1986 | Argentina 3-1 Korea Republic, Group stage (Mexico City-MEX) |
| 1986 | 05/06/1986 | Korea Republic 1-1 Bulgaria, Group stage (Mexico City-MEX) |
| 1986 | 10/06/1986 | Korea Republic 2-3 Italy, Group stage (Puebla-MEX) |
| 1990 | 12/06/1990 | Belgium 2-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Verona-ITA) |
| 1990 | 17/06/1990 | Korea Republic 1-3 Spain, Group stage (Udine-ITA) |
| 1990 | 21/06/1990 | Korea Republic 0-1 Uruguay, Group stage (Udine-ITA) |
| 1994 | 17/06/1994 | Spain 2-2 Korea Republic, Group stage (Dallas-USA) |
| 1994 | 23/06/1994 | Korea Republic 0-0 Bolivia, Group stage (Boston-USA) |
| 1994 | 27/06/1994 | Germany 3-2 Korea Republic, Group stage (Dallas-USA) |
| 1998 | 13/06/1998 | Korea Republic 1-3 Mexico, Group stage (Lyon-FRA) |
| 1998 | 20/06/1998 | Netherlands 5-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Marseille-FRA) |
| 1998 | 25/06/1998 | Belgium 1-1 Korea Republic, Group stage (Paris-FRA) |
| 2002 | 04/06/2002 | Korea Republic 2-0 Poland, Group stage (Busan-KOR) |
| 2002 | 10/06/2002 | Korea Republic 1-1 USA, Group stage (Daegu-KOR) |
| 2002 | 14/06/2002 | Portugal 0-1 Korea Republic, Group stage (Incheon-KOR) |
| 2002 | 18/06/2002 | Korea Republic 2-1 Italy, Round of 16 (Daejeon-KOR) aet |
| 2002 | 22/06/2002 | Spain 0-0 Korea Republic, Quarter-finals (Gwangju-KOR) aet (3-5 PSO) |
| 2002 | 25/06/2002 | Germany 1-0 Korea Republic, Semi-finals (Seoul-KOR) |
| 2002 | 29/06/2002 | Korea Republic 2-3 Türkiye, Third-place play-off (Daegu-KOR) |
| 2006 | 13/06/2006 | Korea Republic 2-1 Togo, Group stage (Frankfurt/Main-GER) |
| 2006 | 18/06/2006 | France 1-1 Korea Republic, Group stage (Leipzig-GER) |
| 2006 | 23/06/2006 | Switzerland 2-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Hanover-GER) |
| 2010 | 12/06/2010 | Korea Republic 2-0 Greece, Group stage (Port Elizabeth-RSA) |
| 2010 | 17/06/2010 | Argentina 4-1 Korea Republic, Group stage (Johannesburg-RSA) |
| 2010 | 22/06/2010 | Nigeria 2-2 Korea Republic, Group stage (Durban-RSA) |
| 2010 | 26/06/2010 | Uruguay 2-1 Korea Republic, Round of 16 (Port Elizabeth-RSA) |
| 2014 | 17/06/2014 | Russia 1-1 Korea Republic, Group stage (Cuiaba-BRA) |
| 2014 | 22/06/2014 | Korea Republic 2-4 Algeria, Group stage (Porto Alegre-BRA) |
| 2014 | 26/06/2014 | Korea Republic 0-1 Belgium, Group stage (Sao Paulo-BRA) |
| 2018 | 18/06/2018 | Sweden 1-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Nizhny Novgorod-RUS) |
| 2018 | 23/06/2018 | Korea Republic 1-2 Mexico, Group stage (Rostov-on-Don-RUS) |
| 2018 | 27/06/2018 | Korea Republic 2-0 Germany, Group stage (Kazan-RUS) |
| 2022 | 24/11/2022 | Uruguay 0-0 Korea Republic, Group stage (Doha-QAT) |
| 2022 | 28/11/2022 | Korea Republic 2-3 Ghana, Group stage (Doha-QAT) |
| 2022 | 02/12/2022 | Korea Republic 2-1 Portugal, Group stage (Doha-QAT) |
| 2022 | 05/12/2022 | Brazil 4-1 Korea Republic, Round of 16 (Doha (Ad-Dawhah)-QAT) |