Lee Dong-Gook makes Korea cut

Jeonbuk Motors striker Lee Dong-gook has been included in South Korea’s 23-man World Cup squad by coach Huh Jung-moo with Lee Keun-ho, Shin Hyung-min and Koo Ja-cheol missing out.

Former Middlesbrough frontman Lee Dong-gook is set to miss South Korea’s Group B opener against Greece due to a hamstring injury but has been included at the expense of Jubilo Iwata’s Lee Keun-ho after Huh was assured the 31-year-old would be fit to face Argentina and Nigeria.

Oita Trinita midfielder Kim Bo-kyung, 20, has been included despite only making his international debut in January, with defender Kang Min-soo replacing Kwak Tae-hwi, who suffered a knee injury in Sunday’s 1-0 defeat by Belarus.

As expected Manchester United’s Park Ji-sung, Bolton’s Lee Chung-yong, Monaco striker Park Chu-young and Celtic’s Ki Sung-yong have all been included along with veteran forward Ahn Jung-hwan, who scored the winner as South Korea beat Italy en route to reaching the 2002 finals.

Coach Huh said: “We have three games and about three weeks. In my own way, I’ve thought about which members could play in the three games and contribute to the team.”

Huh gets a final chance to look at his side against European champions Spain on Thursday before the June 12 opener against Greece.

South Korea World Cup squad: Kim Young-kwang (Ulsan), Lee Woon-jae (Suwon), Jung Sung-ryong (Seongnam); Kim Dong-jin (Ulsan), Kim Hyung-il (Pohang), Oh Beom-seok (Ulsan), Lee Young-pyo (Al Hilal, Saudi Arabia), Lee Jung-soo (Kashima, Japan), Cha Doo-ri (Freiburg, Germany) Cho Yong-hyung (Jeju), Kang Min-soo (Suwon); Ki Sung-yong (Celtic, Scotland), Kim Bo-kyung (Oita, Japan), Kim Nam-il (Tomsk, Russia), Kim Jae-sung (Pohang), Kim Jung-woo (Gwangju), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton, England), Park Ji-sung (Manchester United, England); Park Chu-young (Monaco, France), Ahn Jung-hwan (Dalian, China), Lee Seung-ryul (Seoul), Yeom Ki-hun (Suwon), Lee Dong-gook (Jeonbuk).