Life after the final whistle is rarely what the fans imagine. We see the lights, the high-octane tackles, and the 150 million won salaries, but we don't often see the "after." For Kang Ji Yong soccer fans, the story of this 1.87-meter-tall defender is one that sticks in the throat. It’s a narrative that shifted from the grass of the K League to the floor of a chemical plant, and ultimately, to a tragedy that shook the Korean sports community in early 2025.
Honestly, if you followed the K League during the 2010s, you knew Kang. He wasn't just another body in the box; he was a presence. Born in 1989, he entered the professional scene with a massive weight of expectation after being selected 5th overall in the 2009 K League draft by the Pohang Steelers.
But his story isn't just about stats. It’s about the brutal reality of a career that looks successful on paper but hides a crumbling foundation underneath.
The Professional Grind: Kang Ji Yong Soccer Career
Kang Ji Yong—who originally played under the name Kang Dae-Ho—was a center-back's center-back. He had the height and the grit. Between 2009 and 2022, he bounced through the tiers of Korean football, putting in shifts for clubs like Busan IPark, Bucheon FC 1995, Gangwon FC, and Incheon United.
His peak? Probably those years at Bucheon. He made 101 appearances there. That’s where he became a household name for the "Red" faithful. You don't play a hundred games for a club without having a certain level of mental toughness. Or so we thought.
He was even called up to the South Korea U23 squad in 2009. Everything pointed toward a comfortable life. Yet, while he was clearing balls off the line in the K League 1 and 2, his personal finances were reportedly a different story entirely.
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A Career of Movement
- 2009–2011: Pohang Steelers (The high-stakes debut)
- 2014–2016: Bucheon FC (The legendary century of games)
- 2017: Gangwon FC (25 appearances in the top flight)
- 2022: Cheonan City (The final chapter of his playing days)
By the time he retired in 2022, he had logged nearly 200 professional appearances. That’s a lot of mileage on the knees. But it was the mileage on his spirit that eventually became the headline.
The Shocking Reveal on Divorce Camp
In early 2025, the public saw a version of Kang Ji Yong that was unrecognizable from the athlete on the pitch. He appeared on the JTBC reality show Divorce Camp with his wife, Lee Da-eun.
It was heartbreaking.
Basically, Kang revealed that for eleven years—from 2009 to 2019—he had entrusted his entire salary to his parents. We’re talking about a man who earned over $100,000 a year at his peak. When he finally asked for his money back to build a life with his wife and newborn daughter, his parents allegedly told him they had nothing left.
Can you imagine that? You spend a decade getting kicked and bruised for a paycheck you never actually see.
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He was working at a chemical manufacturing plant after retirement, earning about 3.5 million won (roughly $2,600) a month. He chose this over coaching because he didn't want to be away from his family. But the debt—around 40 million won—and the betrayal of trust were clearly eating him alive. He famously said on the show, "My wish is to die in my sleep."
People thought it was just the drama of reality TV. It wasn't.
The Passing of a Defender
On April 22, 2025, the news broke that Kang Ji Yong had passed away at the age of 35 (some reports cited 37 by Korean age reckoning). The news was shared by his former colleague, Koo Bon-sang.
The football world went quiet.
It’s a grim reminder that professional athletes are often incredibly vulnerable once they step out of the stadium. Kang was the cousin of K-pop star Kwon Eun-bi, and the connection brought even more eyes to the tragedy. Fans who remembered his headers and his defensive positioning were suddenly reading about his financial ruin and mental health struggles.
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Why the Story of Kang Ji Yong Soccer Matters Today
This isn't just a sad story about a retired athlete. It’s a systemic warning. In the world of Kang Ji Yong soccer and the K League, there is a massive gap in how players are prepared for life after the game.
Most people don't realize that unless you are a top-tier superstar like Son Heung-min, your career is short and your financial literacy is often zero. Kang’s reliance on his family to manage his money is a cultural norm in some parts of Korea, but in this case, it proved fatal.
What We Can Learn
- Financial Autonomy is Key: Even at the height of a career, athletes must have a direct hand in their own finances.
- The "Post-Retirement" Void: The transition from being a celebrated athlete to a factory worker is a psychological mountain that many can't climb alone.
- Mental Health Awareness: When an athlete says they "wish to die," it is never just for the cameras.
If you are a young athlete or even just a fan, looking at the life of Kang Ji Yong should prompt a serious conversation about support systems. The K League has since faced calls to implement better financial and mental health counseling for retiring players.
Moving Forward
For those looking to honor his memory, the best path is advocacy. Support organizations that provide mental health resources for former athletes. If you’re a player, start looking at your bank statements today—don't wait for retirement.
Kang Ji Yong was a dedicated defender, a husband, and a father who tried to pivot his life for his family. While his story ended in tragedy, the awareness it raised regarding the "dark side" of professional sports is a legacy that might just save the next player in line.
The reality of Kang Ji Yong soccer is a heavy one, but it's a history that the sport cannot afford to forget.