Lee Jae-sung
South Korean footballer (born 1992)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Jae-sung (Korean: 이재성; born 10 August 1992) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Bundesliga club Mainz 05 and the South Korea national team.[4]
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Lee playing for South Korea at the 2023 AFC Asian Cup | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Lee Jae-sung[1] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 10 August 1992[2] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ulsan, South Korea | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)[3] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Positions | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Mainz 05 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2007 | Hakseong Middle School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2010 | Hakseong High School | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| College career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2013 | Korea University | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2018 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 137 | (26) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2021 | Holstein Kiel | 93 | (19) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021– | Mainz 05 | 149 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012–2014 | South Korea U23 | 14 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2015– | South Korea | 103 | (15) | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 4 April 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 31 March 2026 (UTC) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Club career
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Lee joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2014 and made his debut in the 2014 AFC Champions League match against Yokohama F. Marinos on 26 February.[5] Choi Kang-hee, the manager of Jeonbuk at the time, praised his ability which kept balance about attack and defense of team, and actively used him, the newcomer.[6]
In 2016, he spent his best season by providing 17 assists during a year and winning the 2016 AFC Champions League.[7]
In the 2017 K League 1, he won the Most Valuable Player award after having eight goals and ten assists during 28 appearances.[7][8]
Holstein Kiel
In July 2018, Lee joined 2. Bundesliga club Holstein Kiel on a three-year deal until 30 June 2021.[9] The transfer fee paid to Jeonbuk was reported as €1.5 million.[10] He played his first game against Hamburger SV on 4 August, and was named the player of the matchday by leaving a deep impression on kicker with two assists.[11]
After the end of the 2019–20 season, his goal against Karlsruher SC was selected as Kiel's Goal of the Season.[12]
On 13 January 2021, he played full time and scored the fourth penalty in a 2020–21 DFB-Pokal match, where Kiel won 6–5 on penalties after drawing 2–2 against Bayern Munich.[13] Afterwards, Kiel reached the semi-finals of DFB-Pokal for the first time in history, but they were eliminated by Borussia Dortmund.[14]
Kiel also finished third in the 2020–21 2. Bundesliga, qualifying for the promotion play-off. In the two-legged play-off, Lee scored a goal and provided an assist, contributing to all two of Kiel's goals, but they lost 5–2 on aggregate to Köln.[15][16]
Mainz 05
In July 2021, Lee joined Bundesliga club Mainz 05 on a three-year deal until 30 June 2024.[17]
Lee was named the player of the 22nd matchday by kicker after dominating Borussia Mönchengladbach including a goal and an assist on 24 February 2023.[18] In that month, he was nominated for the Bundesliga Player of the Month by leading Mainz to three Bundesliga victories as well as having three goals and two assists,[19] but lost to Julian Brandt. He was also nominated for the Bundesliga Team of the Season because of his steady performance during the 2022–23 season, but failed to be selected.[20]
Lee seemed lethargic while Mainz earned only one win in the first half of the 2023–24 season, but he played a key role in saving his team from relegation during the second half of the season.[21]
Lee scored two goals in a 2–1 win over Bayern Munich on 14 December 2024, leading Bayern to their first defeat in the 2024–25 Bundesliga.[22] During the 2024–25 season, he had seven goals and six assists (ten assists according to the standard of kicker) in 33 league appearances,[23][24] helping Mainz qualify for the 2025–26 UEFA Conference League.[25]
After coming on as a 60th minute substitute in a league phase match of the 2025–26 Conference League on 6 November 2025, Lee had one assist and the winning goal, converting Fiorentina's 1–0 lead into Mainz's 2–1 win. The goal was his first goal at UEFA competitions excluding qualifiers.[26]
International career
In the 2017 EAFF Championship, Lee led South Korea's title, and was named the Most Valuable Player and the Best Duel Player.[27]
Lee was named in South Korea's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup,[28] and played all three games in the group stage. He also participated in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, helping South Korea advance to the knockout stage.
On 10 October 2025, he made his 100th international appearance in a friendly match against Brazil.[29]
Style of play
Career statistics
Club
- As of match played 4 April 2026
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | Continental | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | 2014[7] | K League 1 | 26 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 7[b] | 1 | — | 36 | 5 | |
| 2015[7] | K League 1 | 34 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 9[b] | 2 | — | 44 | 9 | ||
| 2016[7] | K League 1 | 32 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 13[b] | 1 | 2[c] | 0 | 48 | 4 | |
| 2017[7] | K League 1 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 28 | 8 | |||
| 2018[7] | K League 1 | 17 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 8[b] | 1 | — | 25 | 5 | ||
| Total | 137 | 26 | 5 | 0 | 37 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 181 | 31 | ||
| Holstein Kiel | 2018–19[32] | 2. Bundesliga | 29 | 5 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 5 | ||
| 2019–20[33] | 2. Bundesliga | 31 | 9 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 33 | 10 | |||
| 2020–21[34] | 2. Bundesliga | 33 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | 2[d] | 1 | 40 | 8 | ||
| Total | 93 | 19 | 9 | 3 | — | 2 | 1 | 104 | 23 | |||
| Mainz 05 | 2021–22[35] | Bundesliga | 27 | 4 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 4 | ||
| 2022–23[36] | Bundesliga | 34 | 7 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 7 | |||
| 2023–24[37] | Bundesliga | 29 | 6 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 31 | 6 | |||
| 2024–25[24] | Bundesliga | 33 | 7 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 34 | 7 | |||
| 2025–26[38] | Bundesliga | 26 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 9[e] | 2 | — | 37 | 6 | ||
| Total | 149 | 28 | 10 | 0 | 9 | 2 | — | 168 | 30 | |||
| Career total | 379 | 73 | 24 | 3 | 45 | 7 | 4 | 1 | 452 | 84 | ||
- Includes Korean FA Cup, DFB-Pokal
- Appearances in AFC Champions League
- Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
- Appearances in Bundesliga promotion play-offs
- Appearance in UEFA Conference League
International
- As of match played 31 March 2026[39]
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Korea | 2015 | 13 | 4 |
| 2016 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2017 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2018 | 14 | 2 | |
| 2019 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2020 | 2 | 0 | |
| 2021 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2022 | 8 | 0 | |
| 2023 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2024 | 17 | 4 | |
| 2025 | 8 | 2 | |
| 2026 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 103 | 15 | |
- Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lee goal.[39]
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 31 March 2015 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea |  New Zealand | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 2 | 16 June 2015 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Myanmar | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 3 | 3 September 2015 | Hwaseong Stadium, Hwaseong, South Korea |  Laos | 8–0 | 8–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 4 | 12 November 2015 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea | Myanmar | 1–0 | 4–0 | 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 5 | 9 December 2017 | Ajinomoto Stadium, Tokyo, Japan |  China | 2–1 | 2–2 | 2017 EAFF Championship |
| 6 | 1 June 2018 | Jeonju World Cup Stadium, Jeonju, South Korea |  Bosnia and Herzegovina | 1–1 | 1–3 | Friendly |
| 7 | 7 September 2018 | Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea |  Costa Rica | 1–0 | 2–0 | Friendly |
| 8 | 26 March 2019 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea |  Colombia | 2–1 | 2–1 | Friendly |
| 9 | 16 November 2021 | Thani bin Jassim Stadium, Doha, Qatar |  Iraq | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 10 | 6 January 2024 | New York University Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates | Iraq | 1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly |
| 11 | 26 March 2024 | Rajamangala Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand |  Thailand | 1–0 | 3–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 12 | 10 October 2024 | Amman International Stadium, Amman, Jordan |  Jordan | 1–0 | 2–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 13 | 15 October 2024 | Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea | Iraq | 3–1 | 3–2 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 14 | 25 March 2025 | Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea | Jordan | 1–0 | 1–1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 15 | 10 June 2025 | Seoul World Cup Stadium, Seoul, South Korea |  Kuwait | 4–0 | 4–0 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
South Korea U23
South Korea
Individual
- K League 1 Best XI: 2015, 2016, 2017[40][41][8]
- K League 1 Young Player of the Year: 2015[40]
- AFC Champions League All-Star Squad: 2016[42]
- AFC Champions League Opta Best XI: 2016[43]
- K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2017[8]
- EAFF Championship Most Valuable Player: 2017[27]
- Holstein Kiel Goal of the Season: 2019–20[12]
