Paik Seung-ho was born on 17 March 1997 in Seoul, South Korea. He entered Barcelona's La Masia as a teenager after early development in Korea, becoming one of the most discussed Korean prospects of his generation because of his technical base and education in positional football.
After leaving Barcelona's pathway he played for Girona and Darmstadt before returning to Korea with Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2021. At Jeonbuk he rebuilt momentum, winning domestic honours and becoming a more practical central midfielder, less defined by academy promise and more by two-way responsibility.
In January 2024 Paik joined Birmingham City in England, and by May 2026 he remains with the club. His time in English football has demanded more physical duels and faster transitions, helping him round out a profile that already had clean passing and set-piece technique.
Paik has represented South Korea at youth levels, including the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup generation, and the senior team. He scored a long-range goal against Brazil at the 2022 World Cup and has remained in the wider pool through the 2026 cycle.
At around 1.82 m, Paik is a right-footed central midfielder who can play as a six or eight. His passing angles and academy polish invite comparison with Ki Sung-yueng, though Paik plays with more mobility and a slightly more aggressive pressing rhythm.