Every South Korean to play in Ligue 1 McDonald’s

FC Nantes have added a second South Korean signing this summer, with midfielder Hong Hyun-seok (26) joining on loan from Mainz on Wednesday. He follows fellow midfielder Kwon Hyeok-kyu (24), who arrived earlier in the window. For the 2025/26 Ligue 1 McDonald’s season, there will be three South Korean players in the division – including Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain, the only one to have lifted the league title to date.

In total, 15 South Korean players have now featured in the history of Ligue 1 McDonald’s, the first arriving back in 1998.

The trailblazer: Seo Jung-won

Seo Jung-won paved the way, joining RC Strasbourg Alsace during the 1998 winter window at the age of 28. The winger made an instant impression, scoring in each of his first two appearances.

Park and Hwang lead the scoring charts

Two names dominate the scoring records among South Korean players in Ligue 1 McDonald’s: Park Chu-young and Hwang Ui-jo. Park was the first to hit 12 goals in a single season, doing so for AS Monaco in 2010/11. A decade later, Hwang matched that feat with Girondins de Bordeaux, then followed up with 11 goals the next season, making him the most prolific South Korean in Ligue 1 McDonald’s history with 29 goals.

Another standout was Kwon Chang-hoon, who netted 11 goals for Dijon FCO during the 2017/18 campaign..

All South Koreans in Ligue 1 McDonald’s

Hwang Ui-jo (forward)
Club: Bordeaux (2019–2022)
92 matches, 29 goals

Park Chu-young (forward)
Club: AS Monaco (2008–2011)
91 matches, 25 goals

Suk Hyun-jun (forward)
Clubs: ESTAC Troyes (2017/18, 2021), Stade de Reims (2018–2020)
70 matches, 10 goals

Kwon Chang-hoon (attacking midfielder)
Club: Dijon FCO (2017–2019)
61 matches, 13 goals

Lee Kang-in (attacking midfielder)
Club: Paris Saint-Germain (since 2023)
53 matches, 9 goals

Nam Tae-hee (attacking midfielder)
Club: Valenciennes FC (2009–2011)
37 matches, 0 goals

Jeong Jo-gook (forward)
Clubs: AJ Auxerre (2011), AS Nancy Lorraine (2011/12)
36 matches, 4 goals

Yun Il-lok (forward)
Club: Montpellier HSC (2020–2021)
17 matches, 0 goals

Seo Jung-won (forward)
Club: RC Strasbourg Alsace (1998–1999)
16 matches, 4 goals

Ahn Jung-hwan (forward)
Club: FC Metz (2005/06)
16 matches, 2 goals

Kang Jin-ouk (defender)
Club: FC Metz (2006)
4 matches, 0 goals

Lee Sang-yoon (forward)
Club: FC Lorient (1999)
4 matches, 0 goals

Eo Kyeong-jun (forward)
Club: FC Metz (2007)
1 match, 0 goals

Hyeokkyu Kwon (midfielder)
Club: FC Nantes (since 2025)
Yet to debut

Hyunseok Hong (midfielder)
Club: FC Nantes (loan from Mainz, 2025/26)
Yet to debut