The top-of-the-table Group E clash at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium got off to the best possible start for the visitors when right back Zhang Cheng fired home a volley from the edge of the area in just the 10th minute.
Their joy was short-lived, however, as the home side pulled level less than 15 minutes later when Shin-wook headed home Lee Yong’s cross, and then took the lead just before half-time when Han Kyo-won’s headed effort found the back of the net.
Things got even better for Choi Kang-hee’s side in the second half when Ricardo Lopes made it 3-1 just before the hour mark with a cool finish from Han Kyo-won’s cross.
There was a little bit of fortune about the goal that put Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 4-1 up, with Lee Yong’s cross falling fortuitously for Shin-wook, with the lanky striker bundling it home off his thigh.
There was no doubting the quality of Shin-wook’s third of the night, however, as the home side turned on the style, with Lee Seung-gi’s cheeky back heel finding Kim Jin-su, who whipped in a perfect cross to the back post for Shin-wook, who finished with aplomb.
His hat-trick was the second in as many games for the home side after Adriano also registering a hat-trick in their 6-0 win over Kitchee SC on Matchday Two.
That wasn’t to be the end of the scoring for the home side, with defender Choi Bo-kyung netting their sixth of the night after a scramble in the box in the 72nd minute.
Paulo Sousa’s men restored some credibility to the scoreline with two late consolation goals from Zhao Xuri and Alexandre Pato, but the damage had already been done.
The two sides meet again in the return fixture on Matchday Four in Tianjin next Wednesday.
