▲ This photo provided by Ulsan Hyundai FC on Jan. 4, 2023, shows the K League 1 club's new forward, Joo Min-kyu. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)
▲ This Oct. 4, 2022, file photo provided by the Korea Professional Football League shows forward Joo Min-kyu, then playing for Jeju United. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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K League champions Ulsan reunite with ex-scoring champion Joo Min-kyu

By Yoo Jee-ho

SEOUL, Jan. 4 (Yonhap) -- The reigning South Korean football champions Ulsan Hyundai FC reunited with a former scoring champion Joo Min-kyu on Wednesday.

Joo, 32, had first played for Ulsan in 2019, scoring five times in 28 matches. It was while with Jeju United that Joo blossomed into a dangerous scorer. In 2021, he led the K League 1 with 22 goals, becoming the first South Korean-born scoring champion in five years.

He tied Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors forward Cho Gue-sung for the league lead with 17 goals in 2022, but Cho was credited with the scoring title because he played in six fewer matches than Joo, at 37-31.

Joo was selected to the season-ending K League 1 Best XI in each of the past two years.

Joo made his professional debut as a defensive midfielder in the second division before converting to forward in 2015 with another second-tier club, Seoul E-Land.

With Ulsan, Joo will join Hungarian striker Martin Adam, who netted nine goals in just 14 matches as a midseason arrival.

"I am going to do my best to help Ulsan to a second consecutive championship," Joo said. "I've tasted enough personal glory already, and my ultimate goal this year is to help the team enjoy success."

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