Kim Kee-Hee Bio
Kim Kee-Hee (born 13 July 1989) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a centre back for Seattle Sounders FC in Major League Soccer. Standing 1.87 meters tall, he can also be deployed as a defensive midfielder when required. Across more than a decade of senior football, Kim has represented clubs in the K-League, Qatar Stars League, Chinese Super League and Major League Soccer, and he has been capped at senior international level by South Korea.
He first came to international attention as part of the South Korea U-23 squad that won bronze at the 2012 London Olympics, a result that represented the first Olympic medal in Korean football history. Since then, he has built a résumé that includes K-League titles in South Korea, a domestic cup double in China, and an MLS Cup triumph with Seattle Sounders FC in 2019.
Early Life and Background
Kim Kee-Hee was born on 13 July 1989 in Busan, South Korea. Growing up in a country with a deep football culture, he developed his game through the South Korean youth system before progressing into organised school football.
He attended Bukyeong High School, where he played between 2005 and 2007 and began to attract attention as a physically imposing young defender. He then continued his development at Hongik University, representing the school side in the university league from 2008 to 2010. His performances at collegiate level helped position him for a move into the professional ranks.
Path to Soccer
After three seasons at Hongik University, Kim was selected in the second round of the 2011 K-League draft by Daegu FC. He made his professional debut on 5 March 2011, playing the full 90 minutes of Daegu’s opening match of the 2011 K-League season against Gwangju FC, a 2–3 defeat.
On 26 September 2012, he was loaned to Al-Sailiya, a newly promoted club in the Qatar Stars League, giving him his first experience of football outside South Korea. The loan spell helped broaden his tactical understanding before he returned to the K-League with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2013, where he would win two successive league titles and establish himself as one of the country’s leading centre backs.
Kim Kee-Hee Career
Early Career (2011–2013)
Kim’s early senior years were split between Daegu FC and a loan at Al-Sailiya. At Daegu, he was eased into first-team football as a young centre back, while his time in Qatar exposed him to a different style of play and a new league environment.
The spell abroad proved valuable preparation for the move that followed, as he returned to South Korea to join Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2013.
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors Breakthrough (2013–2015)
At Jeonbuk, Kim became part of one of the most successful teams in Korean football. He helped the club win two successive K-League titles during his time there, anchoring the defence alongside more experienced partners and contributing to a dominant era for the Motors.
His consistency at club level kept him in contention for senior international duty and attracted attention from clubs abroad.
Shanghai Shenhua (2016–2017)
On 19 February 2016, Kim moved to Chinese Super League side Shanghai Shenhua from Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors for a reported transfer fee of US$6 million, a deal his agent described at the time as the biggest transfer in Korean history. He made his debut for the club on 5 March 2016 in a 1–1 draw against Yanbian Funde.
The move marked his first sustained spell outside the K-League and added a Chinese Super League chapter to his career.
Seattle Sounders FC (2018–2019)
On 27 February 2018, Kim was signed by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer using targeted allocation money. He adapted to the demands of the North American game and became a regular in the Sounders back line.
In 2019, he was part of the Seattle squad that won MLS Cup, the league’s biggest prize. He planned to sign a new contract for the 2020 season but was unable to reach agreement with the club on financial terms, opening the door for a return to South Korea.
Ulsan Hyundai Era (2020–2024)
On 26 February 2020, Kim signed for Ulsan Hyundai of K League 1, returning to South Korea after his spell in China and the United States. The move reunited him with one of the country’s most ambitious clubs.
Across five seasons with Ulsan, he continued to operate as a reliable centre back and added valuable experience to a competitive squad before his contract expired.
Return to Seattle Sounders FC (2025–Present)
On 28 January 2025, Kim rejoined Seattle Sounders FC on a one-year contract with an option for the following season. The club expected to use him as a rotation player behind the starting centre backs, given the team’s participation in multiple competitions during the year.
Notable Events and Milestones
Kim’s career-defining moment at international level came in 2012, when he won the bronze medal with South Korea U-23 at the London Olympics, a result that delivered the first Olympic medal in Korean football history and earned the squad exemption from two years of mandatory military service. At club level, his back-to-back K-League titles with Jeonbuk, the 2019 MLS Cup with Seattle, and his landmark transfer to Shanghai Shenhua stand out as the headline milestones of his career.
Kim Kee-Hee Career Wins
Kim’s trophy collection reflects his time at several of Asia’s and North America’s most established clubs. He has won domestic league and cup honours in South Korea and China, an MLS Cup in the United States, and an Olympic medal on the international stage.
Club Highlights
He won two successive K-League titles with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors between 2013 and 2015 and lifted MLS Cup 2019 with Seattle Sounders FC during his first spell at the club. He also collected domestic honours in China with Shanghai Shenhua during his time in the Chinese Super League, and added to his trophy haul with Ulsan Hyundai after returning to K League 1.
International Highlights
At international level, Kim’s standout achievement is the bronze medal won with South Korea U-23 at the 2012 London Olympics, a tournament result that secured his place in Korean football history.
Kim Kee-Hee Family
Family Background and Racing Lineage
Kim was raised in Busan, South Korea, where he developed his early interest in football before progressing through Bukyeong High School and Hongik University.
Personal Life
Kim keeps much of his private life away from the public spotlight. He relocated to Seattle in early 2025 after agreeing terms with Seattle Sounders FC for his second stint with the Major League Soccer club.
2025 Season Performance
Kim began 2025 by completing his return to Seattle Sounders FC on 28 January, signing a one-year deal with an option for the following season. The move came after five seasons with Ulsan Hyundai in K League 1 and gave the Sounders an experienced defender to complement their existing centre backs.
The club indicated that Kim would be deployed as a rotation option behind the starters, a role designed to manage his minutes across a congested fixture list that included domestic league play and cup competition.
With the 2025 MLS season running from late winter into the autumn, Kim’s focus will be on staying available, contributing in selected starts, and helping Seattle compete on multiple fronts as the club targets another deep playoff run.
