The K League 1 soccer field is buzzing with excitement, and much of it is centered around veteran forward Joo Min-kyu! Having joined Daejeon Hana Citizen from reigning champions Ulsan HD on an undisclosed deal announced in January 2025, Joo Min-kyu has made an immediate and powerful impact, demonstrating that age is just a number for this scoring maestro.
Adapting to life in Daejon
Joo Min-kyu, now 35 years old, has been in sensational form this season for Daejeon. As of late April 2025, he
had already notched 8 goals in 11 appearances, leading the K League 1 scoring charts. His ability to find the back of the net has been crucial for Daejeon’s impressive start to the season. Daejeon has won all the games in which Joo Min-kyu has scored. His contributions have helped propel Daejeon to the top of the K League 1 standings, holding a significant lead over their competitors as of April 27th. They sit in 1st place with 7 wins, 2 draws, and 2 losses, accumulating 23 points.
His impact was clearly on display in the recent match against Gangwon FC at Daejeon World Cup Stadium. Despite a tight game, it was Joo Min-kyu who broke the deadlock in the 74th minute, powering home a header from a corner kick delivered by Kim Hyun-wook. This wasn’t just any goal; it was a testament to his renowned positioning skills and finishing ability, even requiring minimal jump to beat the Gangwon defense. He followed it up with his signature “Joo Harry Kane” celebration, mimicking the Bayern Munich star.
Proven commodity for goals
Joo Min-kyu is a proven goalscorer, known for regularly scoring inside the penalty box with effective positioning and creating space for teammates. His consistently strong performances are well-documented; he won the K League 1 top scorer title twice in 2021 and 2023.
While the sources detail his prolific scoring history across the K League 1 and K League 2, indicating a total of 152 goals in 370 national league appearances, they do not specifically state his K League career goal tally as 87. However, his current form suggests he is adding significantly to his already high career tally. With 8 goals already in the 2025 K League 1 season, and many games left to play on the soccer field, he is showing that he is far from slowing down. This scoring rate highlights his continued prowess and hints at the potential for him to reach yet another significant milestone in his illustrious K League career this season. Could he get to 100 league goals?
His performances have not only translated into goals but have also earned him individual accolades this season. Joo Min-kyu won the first EA SPORTS Player of the Month award for 2025, covering performances from the first to sixth rounds of K League 1. He ranked first in TSG voting, K-League fan voting, and FC Online user voting to claim the award for February and March. This marks the second time in his career he has won this award, having previously received it in February-March 2023.
Joo Min-kyu’s arrival has energized Daejeon, a team that finished eighth on the 12-team table in the 2024 campaign. They are now enjoying their third season in the top tier after earning promotion, and with Joo Min-kyu leading the line under coach Hwang Sun-hong, they are aiming high in the K League 1 standings. As Joo himself noted, the passionate fans in Daejeon, often called a “football special city,” influenced his decision to join the club.
With his proven track record, deadly instincts in front of goal, and current red-hot form, Joo Min-kyu is not just a veteran striker; he’s a force to be reckoned with, lighting up the K League 1 soccer field and potentially chasing down personal history with a century of goals.
doragon sports 