Korea Republic coach Paulo Bento announced the squad list at the KFA House in Seoul on Monday, ahead of the friendly with Japan in Yokohama on 25 March.

Bento has called up all the key players at his disposal, naming European-based players Son Heungmin (Tottenham Hotspur), Lee Kangin (Valencia CF), Hwang Heechan (RB Leipzig) and Jeong Wooyeong (SC Freiburg) on the list. However, it remains to be seen whether Son could join the squad, due to the injury he suffered during the Premier League encounter with Arsenal on Sunday. Hwang is also uncertain to make the trip at the moment, with his club and local government discussing a possible exemption from quarantine upon returning from the international duty.

Jeong has been called up to the senior national team for the first time, alongside his namesake Jung Wooyoung (Al Sadd) who won his first cap in 2015. It is only the second time that two players with the same name have been called up together to the squad, since a duo named Seo Dongwon (one who was born in 1973 and played for Korea University and Ulsan Hyundai, with the other born in 1975 and played for Yonsei University and Daejeon Citizen) participated in the King’s Cup International Football Tournament under the guidance of Cha Bumkun in January 1998.

Meanwhile, some of the players who had been called up for the first time by Bento last year, including Won Dujae (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Yeongbin (Gangwon FC), Lee Dongjun (Ulsan Hyundai), Um Wonsang (Gwangju FC) and Yoon Jonggyu (FC Seoul) made the list once again this time around. Goalkeeper Kim Jinhyeon (Cerezo Osaka) returned to the squad after two years and two months since he took part in the AFC Asian Cup in January 2019.

Bento’s charges are preparing for the remaining fixtures of Group H in the second round of Asian Zone qualifying for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, which are scheduled to take place in Korea from 31 May to 15 June, and hoping to utilise the international friendly window this month.

A friendly with Japan is to take place for the first time in almost ten years, since the Taegeuk Warriors lost 3-0 in Sapporo in August 2011. Since then, Korea Republic have recorded two wins, a draw and a defeat in four encounters with Japan at the EAFF E-1 Championships (formerly the East Asian Cup). Korea Republic’s all-time record against Japan is 42 wins, 23 draws and 14 defeats in 79 matches.

Korea Republic men’s national team squad list (24 men)

Goalkeepers: Jo Hyeonwoo (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Seunggyu (Kashiwa Reysol), Kim Jinhyeon (Cerezo Osaka)

Defenders: Kim Younggwon (Gamba Osaka), Won Dujae (Ulsan Hyundai), Park Jisu (Suwon FC), Kim Yeongbin (Gangwon FC), Kim Taehwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Yoon Jonggyu (FC Seoul), Hong Chul (Ulsan Hyundai), Park Jooho (Suwon FC)

Midfielders: Ju Sejong (Gamba Osaka), Yoon Bitgaram (Ulsan Hyundai), Nam Taehee (Al Sadd), Jung Wooyoung (Al Sadd), Lee Kangin (Valencia CF), Jeong Wooyeong (SC Freiburg), Son Heungmin (Tottenham Hotspur), Um Wonsang (Gwangju FC), Lee Dongjun (Ulsan Hyundai), Na Sangho (FC Seoul), Hwang Heechan (RB Leipzig)

Forwards: Lee Jeonghyeop (Gyeongnam FC), Cho Youngwook (FC Seoul)

Men’s national team schedule this month

Monday, 22 March: Departure in the morning at Incheon International Airport

Thursday, 25 March: Friendly with Japan (kick-off time to be decided) at Nissan Stadium, Yokohama

Friday, 26 March: Arrival in the afternoon at Incheon International Airport

Saturday, 27 March – Friday, 2 April: Cohort quarantine and training scheduled at Paju NFC