The KFA announced the honors at the 2023 KFA Awards, held at the Mayfield Hotel in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, on February 2.
The Player of the Year is awarded to the South Korean men's and women's soccer players who have performed the most outstandingly for the national team and their clubs during the year, and is selected by 50 voters, including the heads of soccer departments of media outlets, the association's technical development committee and the national strength and conditioning committee.
The first time he won the award, Kim finished second behind Son Heung-min (Tottenham) in 2021 and 2022, but this time he took the top spot with a total of 137 points. Son, the all-time winner (seven times), was second (113 points) and Paris Saint-Germain's Lee Kang-in third (84 points). This is the first time in eight years that a defender has been named Player of the Year since Kim Young-kwon in 2015.
On the women's side, Chun took the top spot (20 points), as voted on by WK League managers, the women's national team coaching staff, and the KFA's women's full-time coaches. Chun edged out Ji So-yeon (Suwon FC) by one point.
Chun played at the Women's World Cup and Asian Games this year, and was a key part of her team Hwacheon KSPO's second-place finish in the WK League.
The male and female Young Player awards went to Hangzhou Asian Games gold medalist Hwang Jae-won (22-Daegu FC) and Casey Eugene Fair (17), the youngest player in Women's World Cup history. The coaching awards went to Kim Ki-dong, who led the Pohang Steelers to the FA Cup title and K League Cup runner-up finish, and Kim Eun-sook, who led the WK League to a record 11th consecutive title.
The Referee of the Year awards went to Ko Hyung-jin and Park Sang-joon (men's) and Oh Hyun-jung and Kim Kyung-min (women's).
