K League 1's Heo Jae-won loaned to Bayern Munich

South Korean football club Jeju SK announced that their goalkeeper Heo Jae-won, 18, will be loaned to German Bundesliga giant Bayern Munich. The deal, which runs until January 2027, includes an option for a permanent transfer if certain conditions are met.

This move marks a significant milestone for Korean football, as Heo becomes the first Korean goalkeeper to move directly to a top European league club. He follows in the footsteps of Kwon Jung-hyuk, who moved to the Finnish league in 2009, but Heo's transfer is to one of Europe's top five leagues.

The transfer is also the first tangible result of the Jeju SK-R&G partnership established in September 2025. R&G is a global youth development platform co-founded by Bayern Munich, where South Korean defender Kim Min-jae plays, and LA FC, the MLS club of forward Son Heung-min. Jeju SK is the first Asian partner club of R&G.

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Heo Jae-won's transfer is a global recognition of our youth system's value. Our vision to create a path to the global stage, despite the geographical limitations of being an island, is becoming a reality.

Heo, who stands at 195 cm, was selected for the 2025 FIFA U-17 World Cup squad, showcasing his potential. He signed a semi-professional contract with Jeju earlier this year, paving the way for his professional career. Jeju SK CEO Cho Ja-ryong stated that Heo's transfer is a global recognition of their youth system's value, proving their vision to create pathways to the global stage despite geographical limitations.

Heo expressed his excitement, saying, "I have nurtured my dream playing football at Jeju and training at Munich through R&G. It's truly special to be able to play in both a Jeju and a Munich uniform in front of Jeju fans." He vowed to repay Jeju and compete fiercely at Bayern Munich. An official induction ceremony is scheduled for the halftime of the friendly match between Jeju and Bayern Munich on August 4th.

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I have nurtured my dream playing football at Jeju and training at Munich through R&G. It's truly special to be able to play in both a Jeju and a Munich uniform in front of Jeju fans. I will repay Jeju, which raised me, and become a player who competes with pride at Munich.