Ji Dong-won

Jeonnam Dragons

Ji scored 13 goals during 29 appearances in his first professional season including a hat-trick against Gyeongnam in the 2010 Korean FA Cup. He became a national player due to his notable performance, although he conceded the K League Young Player of the Year award to his rival Yoon Bit-garam. The next year, Ji agreed a move to Premier League side Sunderland in the summer transfer window.

Sunderland

In June 2011, Ji agreed a deal to join Sunderland of the English Premier League as a summer transfer after impressing manager Steve Bruce with his performance in the 2011 Asian Cup, in which he scored four goals and provided two assists in six games. He signed a three-year deal for an undisclosed fee (believed to be around £2 million). Upon joining the club, Ji was given a number 17 shirt ahead of the new season. Ji made his first appearance for his new club in a 1–1 draw with Arminia Bielefeld in the club's pre-season tour of Germany. He scored his first goal for Sunderland in a pre-season friendly against Darlington. Ji made his league debut for Sunderland on 13 August 2011 coming on for Asamoah Gyan in the 66th minute against Liverpool. Ji scored his first Premier League goal in the 90th minute against Chelsea from a Nicklas Bendtner assist on 10 September 2011, to which Sunderland lost 2–1. Just 12 minutes after coming on as substitute in the second–half against Manchester City on 1 January 2012, Ji scored the winning goal in the 90th minute,…

After representing the under-20 side, Ji was called up for the under-23 team prior to the 2010 Asian Games. During the bronze medal match against Iran, he scored dramatic equaliser and winning goal in the 88th and 89th minute respectively, bringing a 4–3 victory and a medal. Ji was called up to the senior team ahead of the 2011 AFC Asian Cup. He made his senior debut and scored in a 1–0 win over Syria on 30 December 2010. He was selected for the Asian Cup team after showing his worth in the friendly. He scored two goals in a group match against India. Ji then scored twice for the second time in the third place match against Uzbekistan, earning a bronze medal. During the tournament, Ji scored four goals in six games, catching Sunderland manager Steve Bruce's eye. Two years later, Ji participated in the 2012 Summer Olympics. He was a substitute until the end of the group stage, but appeared as a starter in the quarter-finals against Great Britain. He scored the opening goal against Great Britain, remunerating his manager Hong Myung-bo for believing him. He won a bronze medal after his team defeated Japan in the bronze medal match. Ji played in the 2014 FIFA World Cup as a substitute. He made two appearances against Algeria and Belgium in the group stage.

Born in Chuja Islands, an archipelago of Jeju City, Ji began his football career at Gwangyang Jecheol High School. (Jeonnam Dragons under-18 team). One of the best prospects in South Korea, Ji was sent to an English club Reading in 2007 by the Korea Football Association. After a brief spell in Reading Academy, Ji moved back to his home country to rejoin Jeonnam Dragons' youth team, where he started his career. It was announced in November 2009 that Ji was promoted to the first team of Jeonnam Dragons.

Ji is nicknamed the "Tuna", because his name was the same as Dongwon Industries, a company famous for canned tuna in South Korea. In June 2017, Ji married Kang Ji-eun, an older sister of Kang Ji-young, a former member of K-pop girl group Kara. The couple first met in 2015.