AFC Women's Asian Cup
Having featured for Korea Republic at various youth levels, most notably turning out at the FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup Papua New Guinea 2016, the then-midfielder never quite made the leap to the senior side. While a maiden call-up came in April 2022, Ko never received a cap and did not feature in the set-up thereafter.
That was until March last year, when current head coach Shin Sang-woo gave her a second shot - one that Ko made the very best of. A long-awaited debut arrived in an away friendly against Australia in the following month, followed by five more appearances as she swiftly established herself at the heart of the defence.
That was until March last year, when current head coach Shin Sang-woo gave her a second shot - one that Ko made the very best of. A long-awaited debut arrived in an away friendly against Australia in the following month, followed by five more appearances as she swiftly established herself at the heart of the defence.
The remarkable rise means that not only will Ko make her major tournament bow at Australia 2026, she will do so by leading the Taegeuk Ladies out against the Islamic Republic of Iran in their Group C opener as captain.
“It took almost three years before I could finally make my debut and honestly, it was a long and difficult period,” the 29-year-old told the-AFC.com. “But I never wanted to give up. I always believed that my chance would eventually come. With that mindset, I just kept focusing on doing my best consistently at my club.
“All those years of waiting helped me grow a lot as a player. Step by step, those efforts led me to being selected for this Asian Cup squad, and now I feel ready to aim for bigger goals. Looking back, that period was a time of patience that made me stronger both mentally and as a footballer.”
“It took almost three years before I could finally make my debut and honestly, it was a long and difficult period,” the 29-year-old told the-AFC.com. “But I never wanted to give up. I always believed that my chance would eventually come. With that mindset, I just kept focusing on doing my best consistently at my club.
“All those years of waiting helped me grow a lot as a player. Step by step, those efforts led me to being selected for this Asian Cup squad, and now I feel ready to aim for bigger goals. Looking back, that period was a time of patience that made me stronger both mentally and as a footballer.”
While Ko was biding her time, she quietly transformed into a key player first at Hwacheon KSPO between 2020 and 2022, and then at Incheon Hyundai Steel Red Angels, where she won the WK League title in her first season in 2023. The switch from midfield to defence that took place when she joined the former has proved vital, and Ko reached the milestone 100-appearance mark in the league last May.
Amid the presence of stalwarts in the squad like all-time record appearance-maker and top scorer Ji So-yun, Kim Hye-ri and Jang Sel-gi, it was Ko who was entrusted with the armband last November after then-captain Lee Geum-min suffered an injury – a responsibility retained when the latter was not called up for this tournament.
Amid the presence of stalwarts in the squad like all-time record appearance-maker and top scorer Ji So-yun, Kim Hye-ri and Jang Sel-gi, it was Ko who was entrusted with the armband last November after then-captain Lee Geum-min suffered an injury – a responsibility retained when the latter was not called up for this tournament.
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Calm and level-headed, it is an opportunity that Ko relishes as she looks to help Korea Republic – who reached the final for the first time in 2022 – go all the way and lift the trophy.
“As the team captain and also as a defender, my role is to lead the team from the back and provide stability,” she said. “I want to support my teammates, stay solid defensively, and also show the kind of confident and decisive performances that I’m capable of on the pitch.”
“As the team captain and also as a defender, my role is to lead the team from the back and provide stability,” she said. “I want to support my teammates, stay solid defensively, and also show the kind of confident and decisive performances that I’m capable of on the pitch.”
