Park Yong-woo is one of South Korea’s most reliable defensive midfielders, with a career spanning top clubs in the K League and the UAE Pro League.
If you’ve been searching for Park Yong-woo’s net worth, his current salary at Al-Ain, and how much he has earned throughout his professional football journey, you’ll find it all here.
Park Yong-woo’s Biography
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Park Yong-woo (박용우) |
| Date of Birth | September 10, 1993 |
| Age | 32 years old |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height / Weight | 186 cm / 80 kg |
| Position | Defensive Midfielder / Centre-Back |
| Current Club | Al-Ain FC (UAE Pro League) |
| Turned Professional | 2015 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$1.5 million USD |
| Current Contract Expires | June 30, 2026 |
| Transfer Fee to Al-Ain | €2 million (2023) |
Early Life & Career
Park Yong-woo was born on September 10, 1993, in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, South Korea. Football runs deep in his family — his father, Park Gong-jae, played professionally as a forward for Hanil Bank Football Club from 1986 to 1992.
Inspired by the 2002 FIFA World Cup when he was just in third grade, Park Yong-woo decided he wanted to become a footballer, though his father initially opposed the idea before relenting after his son promised never to give up.
His youth football path was anything but straightforward. He transferred schools multiple times across elementary, middle, and high school levels, guided by his father’s firm belief that a good coach made all the difference.
At Chuncheon Mechanical Technical High School, he trained under Yoo Sang-chul — one of the key figures in South Korea’s famous 2002 World Cup semifinal run — a mentorship that helped shape his technical and tactical foundations.
After high school, he enrolled at Konkuk University, where he developed further under coach Gong Moon-bae before making the leap to professional football.
Professional Career
Park Yong-woo began his senior professional career in 2015 when he signed with FC Seoul as a free agent after his third year at Konkuk University.
In his very first season, he appeared in 34 matches across all competitions, helping Seoul win the 2015 Korean FA Cup and reach the AFC Champions League Round of 16.
In 2016, he helped FC Seoul clinch the K League 1 title, making 26 appearances and scoring 2 goals.
He moved to Ulsan Hyundai in 2017, where he spent the bulk of his career and built his reputation as one of the K League’s best defensive midfielders.
He won the 2017 Korean FA Cup in his debut season with Ulsan and was part of the side that won back-to-back K League 1 titles in 2022 and 2023.
Between 2019 and 2021, Park fulfilled his mandatory South Korean military service by joining Gimcheon Sangmu FC, where he helped the club win the K League 2 title in 2021.
In July 2023, Al-Ain FC signed Park Yong-woo for a transfer fee of €2 million, marking his first career move outside South Korea after eight professional years.
His biggest club achievement came immediately — he was part of the Al-Ain squad that won the 2023–24 AFC Champions League, the club’s first continental title in over two decades.
On the international stage, he represented South Korea at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup, and made his senior national team debut in June 2023 under coach Jürgen Klinsmann in a friendly against Peru.
Park Yong-woo’s Net Worth Details
As of 2026, Park Yong-woo’s has an estimated net worth of approximately $1.5 million.
He built this wealth primarily through over a decade of professional football contracts in South Korea’s K League and, since 2023, the UAE Pro League with Al-Ain FC, supplemented by international match fees and any commercial deals tied to his national team involvement.
Contract
Park Yong-woo signed with Al-Ain FC on July 16, 2023, on a contract that was later renewed and currently runs until June 30, 2026.
According to Al-Ain’s official club announcement, the renewal was confirmed in 2025 and extends his stay through the conclusion of the 2025–26 sporting season.
His Transfermarkt profile lists the contract expiry as June 2026, meaning Park is currently in the final year of his deal at Al-Ain.
A new contract or transfer decision is expected before the 2026–27 season begins.
Salary
Park Yong-woo’s exact salary figures are not publicly disclosed by Al-Ain FC or any official UAE Pro League source.
However, based on his market value data from Transfermarkt (currently around €1.8 million) and Football Manager simulation data suggesting wages in the range of €25,000 per week, his estimated annual salary at Al-Ain is in the region of €1 million to €1.3 million gross per year.
During his K League years with Ulsan Hyundai, as one of the club’s senior squad players and vice-captain, he would have earned a competitive domestic salary consistent with top-tier K League 1 standards.
His career peak market value reached €7.19 million in 2024 according to BeSoccer, reflecting the premium Al-Ain paid for his services.
Career Earnings By Year
| Period | Club | Estimated Annual Salary |
|---|---|---|
| 2015–2016 | FC Seoul | ~$150,000–$200,000 USD |
| 2017–2019 | Ulsan Hyundai (1st stint) | ~$250,000–$400,000 USD |
| 2020–2021 | Gimcheon Sangmu (military) | ~$30,000–$50,000 USD |
| 2021–2023 | Ulsan Hyundai (2nd stint) | ~$400,000–$600,000 USD |
| 2023–2026 | Al-Ain FC (UAE) | ~$1,000,000–$1,300,000 USD/yr |
Career Statistics
| Club | Season | League Apps | League Goals | Cup Apps | Cup Goals | Continental Apps | Continental Goals | Total Apps | Total Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FC Seoul | 2015 | 26 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 34 | 0 |
| FC Seoul | 2016 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 2 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2017 | 31 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 37 | 3 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2018 | 31 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 40 | 4 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2019 | 36 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 1 | 46 | 1 |
| Gimcheon Sangmu | 2020 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 25 | 1 |
| Gimcheon Sangmu | 2021 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2021 | 9 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 17 | 0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2022 | 31 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 35 | 0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2023 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 20 | 1 |
| Al-Ain | 2023–24 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 35 | 1 |
| Al-Ain | 2024–25 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 40 | 0 |
| Al-Ain | 2025–26* | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Career Total | 278 | 9 | 20 | 1 | 55 | 3 | 366 | 13 |
Honours & Achievements
- K League 1: 2016 (FC Seoul), 2022 and 2023 (Ulsan Hyundai)
- Korean FA Cup: 2015 (FC Seoul), 2017 (Ulsan Hyundai)
- K League 2: 2021 (Gimcheon Sangmu)
- AFC Champions League: 2023–24 (Al-Ain)
- 2016 Summer Olympics representative for South Korea
- 2023 AFC Asian Cup participant
FAQs
What is Park Yong-woo’s net worth?
Park Yong-woo’s estimated net worth is approximately $1.5 million USD. He built this through professional contracts at FC Seoul, Ulsan Hyundai, and Al-Ain FC in the UAE Pro League.
Has Park Yong-woo played for the South Korean national team?
Yes. He made his senior international debut in June 2023 in a friendly against Peru under coach Jürgen Klinsmann. He also represented South Korea at the 2016 Summer Olympics and the 2023 AFC Asian Cup.
What position does Park Yong-woo play?
He plays primarily as a defensive midfielder, but he also covers the centre-back role when needed. His positional flexibility makes him a key squad player for both Al-Ain and the South Korean national team.
Which club does Park Yong-woo currently play for?
He currently plays for Al-Ain FC in the UAE Pro League. He joined in July 2023 from Ulsan Hyundai for a transfer fee of €2 million, and his contract runs through June 30, 2026.
Is Park Yong-woo injured?
Yes. He suffered a cruciate ligament injury on September 25, 2025, and has been ruled out for the rest of the 2025–26 season. Before the injury, he had made 5 starts and 6 total appearances in the UAE Pro League that season.
