Lee Chun-soo

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Template:Short description Template:Family name hatnote Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox football biography Template:Infobox Korean name/auto

Lee Chun-soo (Template:Korean; born 9 July 1981) is a South Korean retired football player. He played as a forward for the South Korea national team at the 2002 and 2006 editions of the FIFA World Cup. Early in his career he was regarded as one of the most talented forwards to have emerged from South Korea.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Club career

Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

Lee recorded seven goals and nine assists during 18 appearances in the 2002 K League, showing his talent in his first professional season.<ref name="K-League">Template:K League player</ref> After becoming a World Cup semi-finalist and the top assist provider of the K League at the age of 19, he was named the Asian Young Footballer of the Year by the Asian Football Confederation.<ref name="AFC">Template:Cite web</ref>

In July 2003, he joined Real Sociedad, the runners-up of the 2002–03 La Liga, becoming the first Korean to play in La Liga. However, after a mediocre season, he was loaned out to fellow La Liga side Numancia, and ultimately returned to South Korea. He was unable to score in the La Liga in his two years there.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Lee rejoined Ulsan in mid-season. He especially scored a hat trick in the first leg of the championship final.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He was subsequently named the K League's Most Valuable Player.<ref name="05K-League"/>

The next year, he scored a hat-trick against Gamba Osaka at the A3 Champions Cup.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Feyenoord

In the summer of 2008, Lee joined Feyenoord of the Eredivisie. He got the second chance to play in Europe, but failed to adapt to the Netherlands. While he competed in Feyenoord, he was scammed in his country, and took a two-week vacation to solve the problem.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He had difficulty concentrating on football due to his case of fraud, and Feyenoord officially announced Lee's loan to South Korean team Suwon Samsung Bluewings on a one-year deal in July 2008.

Loan spells

Even in Suwon, his stint was ill-received: he performed poorly, had clashes with the coaching staff, and was banished from the K League. After a few months, Suwon released him from the banishment, and he could be loaned to Jeonnam Dragons on 26 February 2009.Template:Citation needed

In June 2009, he claimed he couldn't reject his transfer according to his contract with Feyenoord if another club suggest a high salary to him, and he joined a Saudi club Al-Nassr in the middle of the season. However, the dual contract did not exist in reality, and he was prohibited from joining the K League again after Jeonnam got to know the truth.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Incheon United

In March 2010, he left Al-Nassr because the club did not give his wages for three months.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He joined a J1 League club Omiya Ardija, and played in Japan for a year and a half.

After leaving Omiya Ardija, Lee did not join any foreign professional club for a year, and hoped to play in South Korea. Jeonnam Dragons released his indefinite banishment after watching his behavior including three apologies at the stadium.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On 31 March 2013, he came back to the K League with Incheon United in a game against Daejeon Citizen 1,381 days after the last game with Jeonnam.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On 5 November 2015, he announced his retirement as a player. His retirement ceremony was held at half time of a World Cup qualifier between South Korea and Lebanon in March 2016.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

International career

In 1999, Lee was selected for the South Korean under-20 team, participating in the Bangabandhu Cup. He scored five goals against Thailand in his debut game,<ref name="KFA">Template:Cite web</ref> and also scored both goals in a 2–0 win over Brazil.

Lee was also a member of the South Korean under-23 team in the 2000 Summer Olympics. In a group match against Morocco, he almost missed a crucial penalty, but succeeded in scoring from the rebound.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In the 2002 FIFA World Cup held in his country, Lee was a substitute of the South Korean national team, but showed good dribbles and defense when appearing.<ref name="02WC">Template:Cite news</ref> After main players were injured, Lee got an opportunity as a starter in the semi-finals against Germany. In this game, however, he was criticised for displaying a greediness for goal with little regard for teamwork, although he made a memorable shot saved by Oliver Kahn.<ref name="02WC"/>

Unlike in the 2002 World Cup, Lee played as a starter in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. He scored South Korea's first goal with a free kick against Togo in a 2–1 win.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

After retirement

In 2005, he took a special seminar at Goyang Baekyang Middle School with Chung Mong-joon, president of the Korea Football Association.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2014, he starred in an SNL Korea episode, when he played a parody of the game Pro Evolution Soccer 2014 called "GTA Winner Eleven 2014" alongside Kim Min-kyo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 5, 2015, when he was about to retire from active duty, he appeared on JTBC Newsroom. During the broadcast, Lee confessed that he intentionally hit Paolo Maldini in the head during the 2002 FIFA World Cup against Italy.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In December 2015, he appeared on the King of Mask Singer in Episode 38 as (with the stage name "Know Thyself Socrates") show and displayed his singing skills.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

As of March 2016, he is a commentator for JTBC3 Fox Sports.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2019, He was appointed as the head of strength and conditioning for his hometown team Incheon United ahead of the 2019 season,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> but resigned from the position in August 2020.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In January 2021, he was appointed as the Chairman of the Social Contribution Committee of the Korea Football Association.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In June 2021, Lee signed a contract with DH Entertainment.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In October 2024, he participated in the Nexon Icon Match in Korea as a striker team.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

On November 4, 2025, police charged him with fraud.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref name="Soccerway"/><ref name="K-League"/>
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 2002 K League 18 7 3 2 0 0 — 21 9
2003 K League 18 8 0 0 — — 18 8
Total 36 15 3 2 0 0 — 39 17
Real Sociedad 2003–04 La Liga 13 0 2 0 — 6 0 21 0
Numancia (loan) 2004–05 La Liga 15 0 1 0 — — 16 0
Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 2005 K League 14 7 1 0 0 0 — 15 7
2006 K League 18 5 0 0 6 2 6 3 30 10
2007 K League 16 5 1 0 10 2 — 27 7
Total 48 17 2 0 16 4 6 3 72 24
Feyenoord 2007–08 Eredivisie 12 0 2 0 — — 14 0
Suwon Samsung Bluewings (loan) 2008 K League 3 0 0 0 1 1 — 4 1
Jeonnam Dragons (loan) 2009 K League 7 4 1 0 1 0 — 9 4
Al-Nassr 2009–10 Saudi Pro League 16 3 0 0 0 0 — 16 3
Omiya Ardija 2010 J1 League 16 2 2 2 0 0 — 18 4
2011 J1 League 27 6 1 0 0 0 — 28 6
Total 43 8 3 2 16 4 6 3 46 10
Incheon United 2013 K League 1 19 2 1 0 — — 20 2
2014 K League 1 28 1 0 0 — — 28 1
2015 K League 1 20 2 0 0 — — 20 2
Total 67 5 1 0 — — 68 5
Career total 260 52 15 4 18 5 12 3 305 64

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
National team Year Apps Goals
South Korea 2000 9 2
2001 7 1
2002 16 1
2003 6 0
2004 4 1
2005 8 0
2006 17 3
2007 10 2
2008 1 0
Career total 78 10
Results list South Korea's goal tally first.
List of international goals scored by Lee Chun-soo
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 5 April 2000 Seoul, South Korea 1 Template:Fb 3–0 9–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2 7 April 2000 Seoul, South Korea 2 Template:Fb 5–0 6–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3 13 September 2001 Daejeon, South Korea 11 Template:Fb 1–2 2–2 Friendly
4 16 May 2002 Busan, South Korea 23 Template:Fb 1–0 4–1 Friendly
5 8 September 2004 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 40 Template:Fb 2–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 29 January 2006 Hong Kong 54 Template:Fb 2–0 2–0 2006 Lunar New Year Cup
7 22 February 2006 Aleppo, Syria 58 Template:Fb 2–1 2–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
8 13 June 2006 Frankfurt, Germany 63 Template:Fb 1–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup
9 6 February 2007 London, England 68 Template:Fb 1–0 1–0 Friendly
10 29 June 2007 Seogwipo, South Korea 71 Template:Fb 2–0 3–0 Friendly

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Note(s) Template:Abbr
2017 Society Game Himself
2021 Golden Eleven 2 Himself <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2021 Brad PT & GYM Carry Himself <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022–present Mr. House Husband 2 Himself <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
2022 Gundesliga Himself <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Web series

Year Title Role Template:Abbr
2021 Ssangssang Invitational Himself <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Honours

Player

Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

Feyenoord

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Incheon United

South Korea U23

South Korea

Individual

Television personality

List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Lee Chun-soo
Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result Template:Abbr
KBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Top Excellence Award in Reality Category Mr. House Husband 2 Template:Won <ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Notes

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References

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