GPS Trackers Enhance Fairness in Selection for K League 2 Debut

[OSEN=Reporter No Jin-ju] Paju Frontier FC, newly challenging the K League 2 stage, will conduct an open player test ahead of the 2026 season.

The club aims to select the main players for its inaugural season and the "first pioneers" who will usher in a new era in K League 2 through this test. It also plans to enhance the fairness and objectivity of the selection process by introducing a scientific data-based evaluation system.

Under the project slogan "Make the Next Stage, Be the First Frontier!" Paju Frontier FC is advancing the "Nextier 2026" project. "Nextier" combines "Next" (next) and "Frontier" (pioneer), symbolizing the club's future-oriented philosophy and spirit of challenge.

Hwang Bo-kwan, the head of Paju Frontier FC, stated, "This open test is not just a simple selection process but a journey to find true frontiers who will co-create a new stage in K League 2," adding, "We hope young players will experience a platform for growth and opportunity centered in Paju."

The open test will be held on the 22nd and 23rd at Paju NFC Baekho Stadium and Cheongwoon Stadium. Eligibility is limited to current elite football players who are high school graduates or higher with no disqualifications for registration with the Korea Football Association and the K League. Applications, including a support form and pre-participation consent form, must be submitted via email (pajufrontierfc@naver.com) by 1 p.m. on the 18th.

The test will utilize GPS trackers from the football performance tracking solution "Soccerbee." Soccerbee is a GPS-based individual EPTS (Electronic Performance Tracking System) that automates complex analysis processes through AI and machine learning algorithms while providing reliable data. Its key feature is the universalization of EPTS technology, which was previously used only at the team level, making it accessible to individual players.

Paju Frontier FC will analyze players' physical performance metrics -- such as distance covered, maximum speed, acceleration, and agility -- using Soccerbee's trackers. By quantifying these metrics, the club aims to reflect not only match performance but also factors difficult to judge visually, such as stamina, agility, focus, and diligence, through objective indicators. This approach will enhance the credibility and fairness of the selection process.

Hwang Bo-kwan added, "This test is open to any player with skill and passion. We look forward to meeting young players who embody the spirit of challenge and pioneering that Paju Frontier FC pursues," and emphasized, "As Paju Frontier FC prepares to enter K League 2, our vision extends beyond being a simple professional club to becoming a 'platform club' that grows together with the region. Starting with this open test, we will promote various projects linked to the local football ecosystem, including youth, community sports, and women's football, striving to establish Paju as a city symbolizing the future of Korean football."

Paju Frontier FC Selects Pioneers via Data-Driven Open Test