Kim Min-jae heads into World Cup 2026 with a full Bayern season behind him and a clear place in South Korea's plans. He started all 34 of Bayern München's Bundesliga matches in 2025/26, helped them win the Bundesliga and the DFB Cup, and was praised by both Vincent Kompany and Hong Myung-Bo.
Why Bayern trust him so heavily
The numbers tell their own story. Min-jae Kim did not spend 2025/26 drifting in and out of the side, he started 34 of Bayern's 34 league matches. That is the profile of a defender the staff trust, even in a squad that rotates through Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah.
Kompany made the point bluntly: "Our strikers have no fun competing against him in training sessions." It is a neat line, but it matches the season Bayern just had. Kim was part of a title-winning league campaign, and Bayern also won the DFB Cup.
Why South Korea will lean on him
Hong Myung-Bo's view was just as direct: "Kim Min-jae is a very important player not only for Bayern, but also for our national team." That matters because South Korea need senior players who have already been through a World Cup cycle, and Kim did play at the 2022 World Cup.
He also captained South Korea in the March 2026 friendly against Ivory Coast, which is the kind of detail that tells you where he stands in the squad hierarchy. If South Korea are looking for a centre-back they can trust in June, Kim is the obvious pick.
For Bayern, the season is already complete. For South Korea, the real test starts when World Cup 2026 begins.
Compiled by the ClutchBrief Desk with AI assistance, cross-checked against 1 outlet. How we work →