Kang Sun-mi

Kang Sun-mi is a South Korean former football player and coach who is currently the manager of Hwacheon KSPO WFC.

Club career

When women's works football team Soongmin Wonders was founded in late 1999, Kang was one of its original squad members, playing as a striker. She quickly earned a reputation as one of the club's top goalscorers. Kang played for Soongmin until the team's disbandment in late 2002, after which she moved to INI Steel. She moved again in 2004, joining the newly established Seoul City WFC. Kang later played for Goyang Daekyo in the WK League before retiring from her playing career.

International career

Kang was part of the South Korean squad that won the bronze medal at the 2001 Summer Universiade in Beijing. She scored the opening goal in the third-place playoff against France. Kang scored against Australia in the group stage of the 2010 AFC Women's Asian Cup, in what would be her penultimate international appearance.

Managerial career

Having previously coached the women's football team at Gangwon State University, from 2020 to 2024 Kang worked as a coach for WK League side Hwacheon KSPO. She was promoted to manager in 2025 after Kang Jae-soon stepped aside to take on a more general managerial role at the club. In her first year as head coach, Kang led KSPO to their first WK League championship title, completing the first domestic treble in the history of Korean women's football following wins at the National Women's Football Championship and National Sports Festival. She also received the Korean Women's Football Federation Manager of the Year award.

Style of play

From a young age Kang was known for her speed and physical strength despite her slight build. Her goalscoring ability earned her comparisons to legendary Chinese footballer Sun Wen.