Top K League scorer ruled out for regional tournament due to dizziness

Jeon Jin-woo of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors celebrates after scoring against Gangwon FC during the clubs' K League 1 match at Songam Sports Town in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, June 13. Courtesy of Korea Professional Football League

Korean forward Jeon Jin-woo was dropped from the national team just ahead of a regional tournament at home Monday due to dizziness.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) announced Jeon, who leads the K League 1 this year with 12 goals for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, will be replaced by Jeong Seung-won of FC Seoul at the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) E-1 Football Championship. This is the first senior national team selection for the 28-year-old Jeong, who has appeared in 15 matches for the under-23 national team.

Korea will open the tournament against China at 8 p.m. Monday at Yongin Mireu Stadium in Yongin, some 40 kilometers of Seoul. According to tournament regulations, teams are allowed to make injury replacements up to six hours before the kickoff of their first match.

Jeon is enjoying a breakout campaign for the K League 1-leading Jeonbuk and earned his first senior international call-up last month for Korea's final two World Cup qualifying matches. He had an assist off the bench in his first match against Iraq and then earned his first start against Kuwait in the next contest.

With the EAFF tournament not being on FIFA's international match calendar, clubs are under no obligation to release their players, and the participating nations here have brought players mostly from their domestic leagues.

Korea head coach Hong Myung-bo put together his squad with 23 players from the K League and three from Japan's J1 League.

Hong has said the EAFF tournament will be an opportunity for him to test Asia-based players with the FIFA World Cup less than a year away.

After China, Korea will play Hong Kong on Friday and Japan on July 15, both at Yongin Mireu Stadium.