Yun Myung-chan (Korean윤명찬, Chinese: 尹明燦; 1949 – 17 December 2017) was a North Korean footballer and football manager.

Yun Myung-chan
Personal information
Date of birth 1949
Place of birth Pyongyang, North Korea[1]
Date of death 8 December 2017 (aged 67/68)
Place of death Soonchunhyang University Hospital, Seoul, South Korea
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[1]
Position(s) Defender
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1964–1976 February 8
International career
1968–1976 North Korea
Managerial career
Pyongyang
1992–1993 North Korea (interim)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals
Yun Myung-chan
Chosŏn'gŭl
윤명찬
Revised RomanizationYun Myeongchan
McCune–ReischauerYun Myŏngch'an

Early life

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Born in Pyongyang in 1949, Yun and his brother were raised by his mother after his father defected to South Korea in 1950 during the Korean War.[1]

Playing career

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In 1964, after graduating high school, Yun joined February 8 Sports Club.[1] He went on to represent the North Korea national football team from 1968 until his retirement in 1976.[1]

Managerial career

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Yun served as interim manager of the North Korea national football team between 1992 and 1993.

Defection, later life and death

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In January 1992, Yun found that his cousin had been living in Hawaii, and asked her to bring his father to China. In July of the same year, on his return from the 1992 AFC U-16 Championship in Saudi Arabia, Yun met with his father in a restaurant in Beijing.[1] By July 1998, North Korean authorities had found out that Yun was in contact with his father, and Yun escaped to China via the Tumen River, leaving his wife and four children behind.[1][2] He relocated to South Korea in April 1999, and in July and October of the same year, three of his children tried to also flee North Korea, however, his youngest son was caught and returned to The North.[1]

Following his defection to South Korea, Yun worked as a member of the K League, before running a restaurant in Daegu.[3]

Yun died on 8 December 2017 in Seoul.[4]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h "前 北축구대표감독 윤명찬씨 '3대 상봉' 南서 첫 설" [Former North Korean soccer coach Yun Myong-chan's '3rd reunion' first New Year's in the South]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 4 February 2000. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  2. ^ "윤명찬 前 북한축구감독 인터뷰" [Interview with former North Korean soccer coach Yoon Myung-chan]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 11 April 2000. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  3. ^ "南축구에 놀란 일본 北보고 놀라?" [Surprised by South soccer, Japan surprised by North Korea?]. Seoul Shinmun (in Korean). 29 January 2005. Retrieved 29 December 2021.
  4. ^ "부고" [Obituary]. JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean). 10 December 2017. Retrieved 29 December 2021.