Kim Seung-gyu

Ulsan Hyundai

Kim was a much-anticipated youth player of K League club Ulsan Hyundai, and joined the senior team after graduating middle school. However, he usually played for the reserve team and high school's team for a long time. He started to get opportunities after existing goalkeeper Kim Young-kwang was injured in 2013. That year, he was selected for the K League Best XI as well as proving his worth at the senior team.

Vissel Kobe

After playing as Ulsan's main goalkeeper until 2015, Kim moved to J1 League club Vissel Kobe. In his first season at Kobe, he was selected as one of the league's three best goalkeepers, who were nominated for the Best XI award. But the award was given to Urawa Red Diamonds goalkeeper Shūsaku Nishikawa. He played as first-choice goalkeeper for Kobe until 2018, but lost his place in the 2019 season when the club exceeded the limit on the number of foreign players. He decided to return to Ulsan in the summer.

Return to Ulsan

Kim came back to Ulsan Hyundai in the middle of the 2019 season, lending support to the club in the K League 1 title race. Prior to the last league match against Pohang Steelers, they were three points clear of second-placed Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, with one match left. However, they lost the match 4–1 at their home stadium, and lost the league title on the number of goals to Jeonbuk, who earned the same points. Kim was criticised for making a fatal mistake in the match. He urgently took a throw-in…

Early career

After representing South Korea at between under-17 and under-20 level, Kim played as the main goalkeeper for the national under-23 team at the 2010 Asian Games, where he won a bronze medal. In the semi-finals against United Arab Emirates, manager Hong Myung-bo replaced Kim with another goalkeeper Lee Bum-young to prepare for a penalty shoot-out when the score was tied at 0–0 prior to stoppage time after 120 minutes, but this decision was followed by opponents' winning goal at the last moment. On 14 August 2013, Kim made his senior international debut in a 0–0 friendly draw with Peru.

2014 World Cup

Kim was named in the South Korea squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup as second-choice goalkeeper behind Jung Sung-ryong. He did not play the first two matches, but was in the starting line-up against Belgium after Jung's poor performance in a 4–2 defeat to Algeria. Despite conceding one goal during a 1–0 defeat to Belgium, he was praised for his numerous saves by South Korean media and fans.

2014 Asian Games

Kim participated at the 2014 Asian Games as an overage player of the South Korea under-23 team. He conceded no goals in six matches he played, helping South Korea win the competition for the first time in 28 years. He was exempted from mandatory military service after receiving a gold medal at the competition. Kim was selected for the senior national team for the 2015 AFC Asian Cup, and appeared in their second group stage match against…

Known as one of the most versatile goalkeepers in South Korea, Kim was originally noted for his quick reflexes and movement, and improved his passing skills while playing at the J1 League.

On 17 June 2024, Kim married model Kim Jin-kyung. On 4 June 2026, the couple welcomed their first child, a daughter.