South Korea's under-23 (U-23) national football team is deploying Lee Young-jun (Grasshopper), Eom Ji-sung (Swansea City), Bae Jun-ho, and others to lead the attack in the semifinal match against China at the 2026 Aichi-Nagoya Asian Games.

The national team, led by head coach Lee Min-sung, has chosen Lee Young-jun as the starting forward for today's semifinal against China, taking place at Nagai Stadium in Osaka, Japan.

Lee Young-jun, who joined the national team late due to his club's circumstances, made his first appearance as a substitute in the second group-stage match against Saudi Arabia on September 22, and led the team to the semifinals by scoring multiple goals in the quarterfinal against Vietnam on September 25.

Eom Ji-sung, Bae Jun-ho (Stoke City), and Lee Hyun-ju (Arouca) are expected to step up in the second line, while the midfield is projected to be composed of Lee Seung-won (Gangwon FC) and Hwang Do-yoon (FC Seoul).

The back four defensive line will consist of Choi Seok-hyun (Ulsan HD), Kim Ji-soo (Brentford), Shin Min-ha (Gangwon FC), and Bae Hyun-seo (Gyeongnam FC), just like in the Vietnam match, with Kim Jun-hong (Suwon Samsung Bluewings) guarding the goal.

Kim Myung-jun (Genk), Yang Hyun-jun (Celtic), Yang Min-hyuk (Westerlo), Lee Ki-hyuk (Gangwon FC), and others will wait on the bench.

As team captain Lee Ki-hyuk is on the substitute list, Eom Ji-sung will wear the captain's armband.

Having achieved consecutive titles at the 2014 Incheon, 2018 Jakarta-Palembang, and 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games (held in 2023), South Korea is aiming for its fourth consecutive gold medal.

(Photo: Yonhap News)