In 2016, the year he turned 20, he signed a free-agent deal with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as a Yonsei sophomore, and when he could no longer train at the university he played for Gyeongju KHNP of the National League.
The breakthrough yearIn March 2017, he made his K League debut with 90 minutes in Jeonbuk’s home opener. In August, called up to the senior national team for the first time, he started a World Cup qualifier against Iran, and in November he won the K League Young Player of the Year award and a place in the Best XI.
In May 2018, an ankle injury against Daegu FC ruled him out of the Russia World Cup, and in September he won Asian Games gold with a win over Japan in the final. In January 2019, he headed the winner against Kyrgyzstan at the Asian Cup and soon moved to Beijing Guoan in China.
He married in 2020. In summer 2021, he moved to Fenerbahçe in Turkey, his first club in Europe. In 2022, he moved to Napoli in Italy, became a regular from his first season and started the World Cup round-of-16 match against Brazil.
In May 2023, he was part of Napoli’s first Serie A title in 33 years, in June he won the Best Defender award, and in July he moved to Bayern Munich. In November came 22nd place in the Ballon d’Or and the AFC International Player of the Year award.
In 2024, yellow-card accumulation kept him out of the Asian Cup semifinal. In 2025, he was part of Bayern’s Bundesliga title but did not play at the Club World Cup because of an Achilles tendon problem.
In April 2026, he won a second straight Bundesliga title, and in June South Korea went out in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
Kim Min-jae (born Nov 15, 1996) made his K League debut for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors on Mar 5, 2017, the year he turned 21, and became known when he started the World Cup qualifier against Iran on Aug 31, 2017 that same year. In 2023, the year he turned 27, he was part of Napoli’s Serie A title.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
02 / QUICK ANSWERS
Q & AFrequently asked
- How old was Kim Min-jae when he debuted?
- In 2017, the year he turned 21. He made his K League debut on Mar 5, 2017, playing 90 minutes for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors against Jeonnam Dragons in the home opener.
- How old was Kim Min-jae when he became famous?
- In 2017, the year he turned 21. He was called up to the senior national team for the first time and started the World Cup qualifier against Iran on Aug 31, 2017. Nocut News described the match as a debut that announced a big name, and Interfootball says he drew public attention from the time he joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He also won the K League Young Player of the Year award on Nov 20, 2017 that year.
- How old was Kim Min-jae when he went to Europe?
- In 2021, the year he turned 25, he moved to Fenerbahçe in Turkey on Aug 14, 2021. He moved to Napoli in Italy in 2022, the year he turned 26, and to Bayern Munich in Germany in 2023, the year he turned 27.
- How did Kim Min-jae complete his military service?
- The Asian Games gold medal in 2018, the year he turned 22, made him an arts and sports service member. He entered the army training center in Nonsan on Jun 15, 2023, the year he turned 27, for three weeks of basic military training, and was then to complete 544 hours of volunteer work over 34 months.
- How old is Kim Min-jae?
- Born in 1996, he turns 30 in 2026 (29 as of Sep 22, 2026).