Lee Myung-jae
South Korean footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lee Myung-jae (Korean: 이명재; Hanja: 李明載; born 4 November 1993) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a left-back for K League 1 club Daejeon Hana Citizen and the South Korea national team.[1]
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Lee in 2024 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Date of birth | 4 November 1993 | ||
| Place of birth | Seoul, South Korea | ||
| Height | 1.81 m (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Position | Left back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Daejeon Hana Citizen | ||
| Number | 16 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2012–2013 | Hongik University | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2014–2025 | Ulsan HD | 193 | (1) |
| 2014 | → Albirex Niigata (loan) | 5 | (0) |
| 2020–2021 | → Gimcheon Sangmu (draft) | 8 | (0) |
| 2025 | Birmingham City | 3 | (0) |
| 2025– | Daejeon Hana Citizen | 23 | (2) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2012–2013 | South Korea U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2014–2015 | South Korea U23 | 6 | (0) |
| 2024– | South Korea | 10 | (0) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 12 May 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 November 2025 | |||
Club career
Ulsan HD
Lee joined Ulsan Hyundai in 2014 and made his league debut against Incheon United on 23 March 2014. He was loaned to Albirex Niigata on 24 June 2014.
Birmingham City
On 3 February 2025, after 11 years at Ulsan HD, Lee signed on a free transfer for English EFL League One team Birmingham City until the end of the 2024-25 season, joining compatriot Paik Seung-ho at the club.[2] He eventually made his debut on 18 April, replacing established left-back Alex Cochrane during the second half of a goalless draw at home to Crawley Town.[3]
On 20 May 2025, the club announced he would be leaving in June when his contract expired.[4]
International career
Lee was a member of the South Korea national U-20 team for the 2014 Toulon Tournament.
Lee made his debut for the senior South Korea national team on 21 March 2024 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Thailand.[5]
In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq on 15 October 2024, Lee Myung-jae completely deceived the opponent and assisted Lee Jae-seong's headed goal with an accurate cross.[6]
Club statistics
- As of match played 12 May 2026[7]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Ulsan Hyundai/ Ulsan HD |
2014 | K League 1 | 2 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | — | 4 | 0 | ||
| 2015 | K League 1 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 19 | 0 | ||||
| 2016 | K League 1 | 5 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | — | — | 6 | 0 | ||||
| 2017 | K League 1 | 32 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | 1[d] | 0 | — | 37 | 1 | |||
| 2018 | K League 1 | 32 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 6[d] | 0 | — | 41 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | K League 1 | 24 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 7[d] | 0 | — | 32 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | K League 1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 0 | — | 7 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | K League 1 | 19 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 5[d] | 0 | — | 26 | 0 | |||
| 2023 | K League 1 | 30 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 4[d] | 1 | — | 35 | 1 | |||
| 2024 | K League 1 | 28 | 0 | 4 | 0 | — | 10[d] | 1 | — | 42 | 1 | |||
| Total | 193 | 1 | 18 | 0 | — | 38 | 2 | — | 249 | 3 | ||||
| Albirex Niigata (loan) | 2014 | J1 League | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| Gimcheon Sangmu (draft) | 2020 | K League 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||
| 2021 | K League 2 | 8 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||
| Total | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | |||||
| Birmingham City | 2024–25 | League One | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| Daejeon Hana Citizen | 2025 | K League 1 | 15 | 2 | — | — | — | — | 15 | 2 | ||||
| 2026 | K League 1 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 9 | 0 | ||
| Total | 23 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 24 | 2 | |||
| Career total | 232 | 3 | 19 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 290 | 5 | ||
- Includes KFA Cup, Emperor's Cup, FA Cup
- Includes J. League Cup
- Appearances in AFC Champions League (Elite)
- Appearance in K League Super Cup
Honours
Ulsan HD
Gimcheon Sangmu
Birmingham City
Individual
