Jon Il-chong is a 17-year-old forward who has quickly become the face of North Korean women’s football. In 2024, she led her country to a historic world title, winning the Golden Ball as the best player at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. Known for her incredible stamina, technical skill, and ability to play for the team, she has shown she can be both a deadly goalscorer and a smart playmaker. After years of North Korea being away from international games, Jon has emerged as a world-class talent ready to lead the senior national team into a new era.
At a Glance
- Full Name: Jon Il-chong (Korean: 전일청)
- Date of Birth: March 12, 2007
- Age: 17 (During the 2024 campaign)
- Position: Inverted Winger (Left) / Second Striker
- Current Club: Amnokgang Sports Club
- National Team: Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK)
The Story So Far
The return of North Korea to international women’s youth football in 2024 was a massive shift for the sport. After several years of being away due to the pandemic, the national program returned with a level of skill that surprised much of the footballing world. At the heart of this comeback was Jon Il-chong.
Jon plays her club football for Amnokgang Sports Club in Pyongyang. Training there is known for being extremely intense, which helped Jon develop the tireless work rate she is known for today. It is within this system that she became a player who can sprint just as fast in the 90th minute as she does in the first.
Her 2024 season was a journey of two halves. In May, she dominated the AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup in Indonesia, finishing as the top scorer with six goals. Her most famous performance was a hat-trick in a 7-0 win against South Korea, where she scored twice just after halftime and once more in the final minutes. She also scored the only goal in the final against Japan to secure the trophy for her country.
In October, Jon traveled to the Dominican Republic for the U-17 Women’s World Cup. This time, opponents tried to give her no space, knowing how dangerous she was. Instead of just trying to score herself, Jon changed her game to become a playmaker. While she only scored one goal in the whole tournament, it was the most important one: the equalizer in the 64th minute of the final against Spain. North Korea eventually won the championship, and Jon was named the tournament’s best player.
Style of Play & Tactical Analysis
Jon Il-chong is the perfect example of a modern North Korean attacker. She usually plays on the left wing as an inverted forward. Since she is right-footed, her natural move is to receive the ball out wide and drive toward the goal. This causes a lot of trouble for defenders because she has the speed to beat them on the outside or use quick passes to cut inside.
One of her greatest strengths is her stamina, often called the Chollima engine. She acts as the first line of defense, constantly pressing and harassing opponents to win the ball back. She is also excellent in one-on-one situations, using body feints and close control to unbalance defenders rather than just relying on speed.
During the World Cup, she showed great intelligence by drawing defenders toward her to create space for her teammates. Her fellow players have praised her for always thinking about the team first, often looking to assist others even when she has a chance to score.
Future Outlook
Jon’s move to the senior national team is expected to happen very soon. She has the talent to go straight into the squad for the 2027 Women’s World Cup qualifiers. While her skill is high enough to interest top European clubs, her career will likely stay in North Korea for now. This makes her a special talent who mostly appears on the world stage during major international tournaments.
The Trophy Case
| Award / Title | Organization | Result |
| FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup | FIFA | Winner (2024) |
| Adidas Golden Ball (Best Player) | FIFA | Winner (2024) |
| AFC U-17 Women’s Asian Cup | AFC | Winner (2024) |
| Yili Top Goalscorer (Golden Boot) | AFC | Winner (2024) |
| DPRK Top 10 Athletes of 2024 | DPRK State | Winner |
| AFC Youth Player of the Year | AFC | Finalist |
