*This content was translated by AI.
Lee Ho-jae (26), a Pohang Steelers striker in the K-League 1, has become the highest paid player in the K-League.
According to the K League 1 player market value ranking recently released by the International Sports Research Institute (CIES) under the FIFA, Lee Ho-jae ranked first overall with up to 2.7 million euros (about 4.7 billion won).
In the meantime, Kang Sang-yoon (22, Jeonbuk Hyundai) and Shin Min-ha (21, Gangwon FC) have been competing for the top spot in the K-League market value calculated by CIES, and Lee Ho-jae has been trailing the two.
Lee Ho-jae, a 191-centimeter tall striker, is playing his sixth professional season in Pohang alone since his debut in Pohang in 2021. After eight goals and one assist in the 2023 season, nine goals and five assists in the 2024 season, he scored 15 goals and one assist last season, ranking third in the K League 1 scoring. He has one goal in his first four games this season.
CIES also revealed the top players in the market value of each of the 12 K-League teams, excluding rental players.
Kang Sang-yoon of Jeonbuk and Shin Min-ha of Gangwon Province both maintained the top market value in the team with up to 2.3 million euros (about 4 billion won). The No. 1 Daejeon Hana Citizen was midfielder Kim Bong-soo (27), who was evaluated at up to 1.5 million euros (about 2.7 billion won), and the No. 1 Ulsan HD was Brazilian striker Yago (27) who was valued at up to 1.4 million euros (about 2.5 billion won).
Park Seung-ho (23) then ranked No. 1 in Incheon United market value with up to 1 million euros (about 1.8 billion won), FC Seoul Barbets (27, Croatia) recorded up to 870,000 euros (about 1.6 billion won), and Gimcheon Sangmu Hong Yoon-sang (24) recorded up to 840,000 euros (about 1.5 billion won).
In addition, Gwangju FC Jung Ji-hoon (22) was evaluated at up to 680,000 euros (about 1.19 billion won), Jeju SK Gitis (27, Lithuania) was evaluated at 670,000 euros (about 1.17 billion won), FC Anyang Chae Hyun-woo (22) was evaluated at 360,000 euros (about 630 million won), and Bucheon FC Basani (29, Brazil) was ranked first in market value by team at 260,000 euros (about 460 million won).
CIES periodically calculates and announces the market value of players around the world based on their own standards such as players' performance, league level, age, and remaining contract period. Currently, FC Barcelona's striker Ramin Yamal (19·Spain), who was born in 2007, ranks first in the world in terms of CIES, currently has a market value of up to 391 million euros (about 679.4 billion won).
<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>
*This content was translated by AI.
![[Official] Korea, a member of the Korean national team who won the 'overwhelming vote,' received his team's Player of the Month award 'again.'](https://image.starnewskorea.com/cdn-cgi/image/f=avif,w=1200,h=831,fit=cover,g=face/21/2026/03/2026032608112139070_1.jpg)
![[Official] 'Winning prize money of 15 billion won' The strongest team in Asia will be decided, and the quarterfinals of ACLE will be decided](https://image.starnewskorea.com/cdn-cgi/image/f=avif,w=1200,h=831,fit=cover,g=face/21/2026/03/2026032607191186040_1.jpg)
