By Kang Seung-woo
Staff Reporter
Veteran goalkeeper Lee Woon-jae has regained his place in the National football squad after controversial off-the-field exploits last year.
The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Monday a 25-member roster for South Korea's third match in the fourth round of World Cup qualifiers against Saudi Arabia.
The entry also includes AS Monaco striker Park Chu-young and midfielder Yeom Ki-hoon of Ulsan Tigers.
The Suwon BlueWings goalie, 35, was suspended from the national team for a year and undertook an 80-hour community service order over a late-night drinking spree during the Asian Cup.
Lee Dong-gook, Kim Sang-shik and Woo Sung-yong were also banned over the incident, but none of them were selected for the qualifier.
``I did not expect myself to rejoin the national team because young players have performed well thus far,'' said Lee, who helped his country reach the semifinals of the World Cup in 2002.
``I also had a notion that young players should feature at the 2010 World Cup.''
In the months since the incident, the goalie, who began his international career at the Barcelona Olympics in 1992, has put in solid performances in the K-League.
He appeared in 36 matches for the BlueWings and conceded 26 goals, outperforming national teammates Jung Sung-ryong, whose record was 27 in 32 games, and Kim Young-kwang, with 29 in as many appearances.
Park's selection in Huh Jung-moo's squad is his first since the third round.
The striker, who has struggled to find the net this season, appears to be regaining form at the right time. He scored his second goal of the season Sunday in the French league.
Yeom, who has recovered from injury, is expected to solidify the team's attacking options on the flank.
Meanwhile, injured Kwak Tae-hwi, Shin Young-rok and Kim Nam-il, who had been the team captain until the last qualifying match against United Arab Emirates (UAE), did not make the roster.
The national team will play a warm-up match against Qatar on Nov. 15 before traveling to face Saudi Arabia four days later.