Kang Sun-mi (Korean: 강선미, born 14 March 1979) 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 her team's only goal in a 3-1 loss 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.
Career statistics
International Source +Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSouth Korea199720199830199995200040200173200230200640200710201031Total3710
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kang Sun-mi goal.
+List of international goals scored by Kang Sun-miNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1Panaad Stadium, Bacolod, Philippines China1-12-51999 AFC Women's Championship22-53Panaad Stadium, Bacolod, Philippines Kazakhstan2-06-01999 AFC Women's Championship4Panaad Stadium, Bacolod, Philippines Guam11-01999 AFC Women's Championship56Munsu World Cup Stadium, Ulsan, South Korea Japan1-01-1Toto Cup International Women's Football Tournament7Gangneung Stadium, Gangneung, South Korea Brazil3-13-1Toto Cup International Women's Football Tournament8New Taipei City, Taiwan India4-07-02001 AFC Women's Championship9New Taipei City, Taiwan Malaysia3-02001 AFC Women's Championship10Chengdu Sports Center, Chengdu, China Australia1-31-32010 AFC Women's Asian Cup
Honours
Player
Hanyang Women's University
Korean women's football league: 1998
Individual
Korean women's football league MVP: 1998
Manager
Hwacheon KSPO
WK League: 2025 National Women's Football Championship: 2025 National Sports Festival: 2025
Individual
KWFF Manager of the year: 2025
References
External links
Kang Sun-mi - Korea Football Association