Koreans finding form and favor in English lower tiers

Paik Seung-ho makes a pass during a 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Oman in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, March 20. The 28-year-old has been playing for Birmingham City since 2024. Yonhap

It’s not all about Son Heung-min and the English Premier League. There are growing numbers of South Korean stars lower down the English league system, which has the deepest and most solid soccer pyramid in the world. In the fourth tier, for example, Bradford City’s average attendance after 23 home games was over 17,000. In the third, Birmingham City managed around 27,000.

In the season that just finished, Birmingham City ended up in first in the EFL League One and was promoted to The Championship League, the second tier but one of the most watched leagues in world soccer. It is home to a number of South Koreans. Paik Seung-ho, 28, joined Birmingham in January 2024 when the team was in The Championship but about to be moved down to League One.

When the drop was confirmed, many thought that Paik should leave. After all, how could a player hope to be selected for the Korean national team when playing in the third tier? The midfielder said that he received offers from other clubs, but decided to stay.

"Honestly, I thought I would definitely leave, but the manager is so good,” Paik said in February. “I kept fighting with myself internally: ‘If I play in a better league, won't I be able to go to the national team?’ And the other half was: ‘Under this manager, can't I really develop more as a player while playing the football I like and have learned?’ If I had transferred, I wouldn't know what kind of football the manager there would play. It was really stressful. In the end, I decided to stay, and I'm really, really satisfied. Really."

It was a good season, as Birmingham came straight back up. This was never a third-tier team and the investment from ambitious American owners, fronted by former NFL star Tom Brady, was significant and meant that the club was never going to spend more than a season in the doldrums. Paik showed his quality and became a fan favorite, playing over 40 league games this season. Now, Birmingham City has its sights set on another promotion, this time to the Premier League.

Birmingham signed another Korean, Lee Myung-jae, earlier this year. Already an international star, the 31-year-old wanted to play in Europe and made his debut in April. He hopes to play a big part next season.

Less than an hour’s drive to the north, Bae Jun-ho has become a popular player for Stoke City with his technical skill and worth ethic. The 21-year-old was named the club’s Player of the Year for the 2023-24 season. “He has so much ability on the ball, he’s quick, got the moves and he can finish, while he sees play very well too — he’s a really good player,” Stoke goalkeeper Viktor Johansson said in April.

“He takes more shots, gets in good positions and I think he believes he is going to score. I really like him; he smiles every morning and, while he might not be the loudest, he plays a massive part in our changing room.”

And then there is Eom Ji-sung down in South Wales with Swansea City. The midfielder signed with the club in July 2024. He also had a good season, showing fans of the Swans as to what he can do.

Given the fine performances from the Korean contingent, there may well be a few more interested clubs in the Championship this summer looking to the Land of the Morning Calm once more.