Park Chu-young: Included in South Korea's World Cup squad

Coach Hong Myung-bo has named a total of nine European-based players, which includes Park Chu-young (Arsenal), Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea), Kim Bo-kyong (Cardiff), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton) and Yun Suk-young (QPR).

The Koreans have opted for a young squad, with just one player over the age of 30 - Kwak Tae-hwi.

The one major talking point about the squad was the inclusion of Park, who has played so little since his move to Arsenal in 2011 but finished the season on-loan at Championship side Watford.

And Myung-bo insists that he could not find a better replacement for Park.

"Among Korean forwards, I couldn't find another attacker to replace Park," Hong said.

"I have thought long and hard about this selection and decided on the final list just last night."

South Korea open their Group H World Cup campaign against Russia on June 17, before taking on Algeria and then Belgium.

South Korea's World Cup squad:

Goalkeepers: Jung Sung-ryong (Suwon Bluewings), Kim Seung-gyu (Ulsan Hyundai), Lee Bum-young (Busan I'Park).

Defenders: Kim Jin-su (Albirex Niigata), Yun Suk-young (QPR), Kim Young-gwon (Guangzhou Evergrande), Hwang Seok-ho (Sanfrecce Hiroshima), Hong Jeong-ho (Augsburg), Kwak Tae-hwi (Al Hilal), Lee Yong (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Chang-soo (Kashiwa Reysol).

Midfielders: Ki Sung-yueng (Swansea), Ha Dae-sung (Beijing Guoan), Han Kook-young (Kashiwa Reysol), Park Jong-woo (Guangzhou R&F), Son Heung-min (Bayer Leverkusen), Kim Bo-kyung (Cardiff City), Lee Chung-yong (Bolton Wanderers), Ji Dong-won (Augsburg).

Forwards: Koo Ja-cheol (Mainz), Lee Keun-ho (Sangju Sangmu), Park Chu-young (Arsenal), Kim Shin-wook (Ulsan Hyundai).