Li Keun-hak

Li Keun-hak, also known as Lee Keun-hak or Li Gun-hak (born 7 July 1940-before 2002) was a North Korean football goalkeeper. He recorded over 50 appearances for the national team and was part of their squad at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. He also played for Moranbong Sports Club.

Early life Li was born on 7 July 1940 in North Korea. A goalkeeper, he played for Moranbong Sports Club in the country's top league.

International career In 1957, the North Korea national football team was re-organized with the goal of competing at the 1966 FIFA World Cup. In 1962, Li was chosen as one of the best 40 players from the North Korean leagues, whose membership reportedly consisted of over 250,000, to be considered for the national team. The 40 players were enlisted into the Army as military officers, under the leadership of colonel and coach Myung Rye-hyun, and went under strict training for the next four years in preparation for the cup.

Li was ultimately chosen as one of 22 players for the World Cup team, being one of three goalkeepers chosen along with Li Chan-myung and An Se-bok. He was the most experienced goalkeeper on the team, having totaled 51 caps according to the Evening Telegraph, although the Sunday Mirror reported his cap total to be 63. Projected as having little chance of success, the team lost their first match, 3–0 against the Soviet Union, before tying Chile 1–1. In a massive upset, North Korea won 1–0 on a goal by Pak Doo-ik.

Later life After the World Cup, it was rumored that the North Korean squad was imprisoned for celebrating the win over Italy in a bar; however, when interviewed in 2002, several players denied this. In 2002, the surviving members of the 1966 North Korean World Cup team were interviewed for the documentary film The Game of Their Lives; Li was not among them.