Jung Woo-young has spent over 15 years building one of the most well-traveled careers in South Korean football.
From the J.League to Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and back home, this defensive midfielder has earned steadily across multiple leagues and continents.
If you are searching for Jung Woo-young’s net worth, his salary history, and how his career has shaped his finances, this guide covers everything you need to know.
Jung Woo-young’s Biography
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jung Woo-young (정우영) |
| Date of Birth | December 14, 1989 |
| Age | 36 years old |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height | 186 cm (6 ft 1 in) |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder / Centre-Back |
| Current Club | Kataller Toyama (Japan) |
| Professional Since | 2011 |
| Net Worth | ~$3 million (estimated) |
| Relationship Status | Married (Lee Yeon-ji, daughter of actor Lee Kwang-ki, 2025) |
Early Life & Career
Jung Woo-young was born on December 14, 1989, in Ulsan, South Korea — the same city whose top football club he would later represent as a veteran.
Growing up in a football-loving country, he developed his game through youth football before making his professional debut with Kyoto Sanga FC in Japan’s second division in 2011.
During his time at Kyoto Sanga, he played across two J2 League seasons, making 36 appearances in each campaign and establishing himself as a disciplined defensive presence in midfield.
The experience of playing abroad at a young age shaped him into the technically sound, positionally aware midfielder he became.
After his stint at Kyoto, he earned a loan move to Júbilo Iwata in 2013, where he played 20 matches in the top-flight J1 League, gaining his first taste of Japan’s highest level.
His early international exposure — leaving South Korea while still a teenager-to-early-twenties player — gave Jung Woo-young a tactical foundation that would serve him through stints in five different countries over the next decade.
Professional Career
Jung Woo-young returned to the J1 League proper when he signed with Vissel Kobe in 2014.
He spent three seasons there, including his strongest scoring output of three goals in 2014, and became a cornerstone of Kobe’s midfield.
He then moved to Chinese Super League club Chongqing Lifan in 2016, playing two seasons and logging 51 combined league appearances before heading back to Japan for a brief return to Vissel Kobe in 2018.
His most decorated chapter came with Al-Sadd SC in Qatar, where he joined in 2018 and spent nearly five years.
At Al-Sadd, he won the Qatar Stars League three times (2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22), the Emir of Qatar Cup twice, the Qatar Cup twice, and the Sheikh Jassem Cup once.
He played under globally recognized management at a club known for high standards, and his consistent appearances across AFC Champions League campaigns raised his international profile significantly.
In July 2023, he joined Saudi Pro League club Al-Khaleej on a free transfer, making 35 appearances and scoring once across all competitions.
He then returned to South Korea to join Ulsan HD in 2024, where his club won the K League 1 title that same year.
In 2026, according to Football Transfers, he moved to Japanese club YKK AP FC (now known as Kataller Toyama), completing another international chapter in a remarkably global career.
Jung Woo-young also represented South Korea at the 2012 Summer Olympics (bronze medal), the 2018 FIFA World Cup, the 2019 AFC Asian Cup, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup, starting all four group stage matches at the 2022 edition.
Wife
Jung Woo-young married Lee Yeon-ji in June 2025. Lee Yeon-ji is the daughter of well-known South Korean actor Lee Kwang-ki, making the wedding a notable event in both the sports and entertainment worlds.
The couple reportedly met through a mutual friend gathering and dated for about a year before their wedding.
After getting married in South Korea, they honeymooned in Germany, where Jung Woo-young had previously been connected to the Bundesliga scene. No information about children is publicly available as of 2026.
Jung Woo-young’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Jung Woo-young’s has an estimated net worth of $3 million.
He built this wealth through a professional football career spanning over 15 years across Japan, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, and back to Japan — with salary income from each club forming the core of his earnings.
Contract
Jung Woo-young’s most recent confirmed move was to Kataller Toyama (YKK AP FC) in Japan in 2026, following his time at Ulsan HD in South Korea.
At Ulsan HD, he was part of the squad that won the K League 1 title in 2024. His contract details at Kataller Toyama are not publicly disclosed.
Given the club competes in Japan’s lower professional divisions, his compensation there would be modest compared to his Qatar and Saudi Arabia years.
Earlier in his career, his time at Al-Sadd in Qatar — one of the wealthiest clubs in Asia — would have represented his most lucrative contract period, with top Qatar Stars League players earning annual salaries between $500,000 and $2 million during that era.
Salary
Jung Woo-young have been made publicly available by any of his clubs.
Based on estimates aligned with his market valuation — currently placed at approximately €93,000–€196,800 by platforms tracking his value — and his career trajectory, his annual earnings at Ulsan HD in 2024–25 would have been in the range of $200,000–$400,000.
During his peak earning years at Al-Sadd (2018–2023), when he was an established international and Qatar Stars League champion, his salary would have been meaningfully higher.
His Soccerway-listed career total of 342 league appearances across 15 seasons reflects a long, income-generating career even if individual figures are not public.
Career Earnings By Year
| Period | Club | League | Est. Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2011–2012 | Kyoto Sanga FC | J2 League | ~$80,000–$120,000 |
| 2013 | Júbilo Iwata (loan) | J1 League | ~$100,000 |
| 2014–2015 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | ~$150,000–$250,000 |
| 2016–2017 | Chongqing Lifan | Chinese Super League | ~$300,000–$600,000 |
| 2018 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | ~$200,000 |
| 2018–2023 | Al-Sadd SC | Qatar Stars League | ~$500,000–$1.2M/yr |
| 2023–2024 | Al-Khaleej | Saudi Pro League | ~$400,000–$700,000 |
| 2024–2025 | Ulsan HD FC | K League 1 | ~$200,000–$400,000 |
| 2026 | Kataller Toyama | J League | ~$100,000–$200,000 |
Career Statistics
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | 31 | 1 |
| 2012 | Kyoto Sanga | J2 League | 34 | 1 |
| 2013 | Júbilo Iwata (loan) | J1 League | 13 | 0 |
| 2014 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 33 | 3 |
| 2015 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 32 | 0 |
| 2016 | Chongqing Lifan | CSL | 30 | 1 |
| 2017 | Chongqing Lifan | CSL | 21 | 2 |
| 2018 | Vissel Kobe | J1 League | 12 | 2 |
| 2018–19 | Al-Sadd | Qatar Stars League | 17 | 3 |
| 2019–20 | Al-Sadd | Qatar Stars League | 21 | 0 |
| 2020–21 | Al-Sadd | Qatar Stars League | 18 | 0 |
| 2021–22 | Al-Sadd | Qatar Stars League | 21 | 0 |
| 2022–23 | Al-Sadd | Qatar Stars League | 18 | 0 |
| 2023–24 | Al-Khaleej | Saudi Pro League | 31 | 1 |
| 2024 | Ulsan HD FC | K League 1 | 8 | 0 |
| 2025 | Ulsan HD FC | K League 1 | 12 | 0 |
| Career Total | 352 | 14 |
FAQs
What is Jung Woo-young’s net worth?
Jung Woo-young’s estimated net worth is approximately $3 million. He accumulated this wealth through over 15 years of professional contracts across Japan, China, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and South Korea.
What club does Jung Woo-young currently play for?
Jung Woo-young plays for Kataller Toyama in Japan, following his transfer from Ulsan HD FC in South Korea where he won the K League 1 title.
Did Jung Woo-young play at the FIFA World Cup?
Yes, he represented South Korea at both the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. At the 2022 edition in Qatar, he started all four of South Korea’s matches.
Is Jung Woo-young married?
Yes, Jung Woo-young married Lee Yeon-ji — daughter of South Korean actor Lee Kwang-ki — in June 2025. The couple met through mutual friends and dated for about a year before their wedding.
What trophies has Jung Woo-young won in his career?
His major honors include the K League 1 (2024) with Ulsan HD, three Qatar Stars League titles with Al-Sadd (2018–19, 2020–21, 2021–22), two Emir of Qatar Cups, two Qatar Cups, and an Olympic bronze medal with South Korea at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
