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Lee Chun-soo
Lee Chun-Soo.jpg
Lee with Incheon United in 2013
Personal information
Full name Lee Chun-soo
Date of birth (1981-07-09) 9 July 1981 (age 42)
Place of birth Incheon, South Korea
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Playing position Forward
Youth career
1994–1996 Bupyeongdong Middle School
1997–1999 Bupyeong High School
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002–2003 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 36 (15)
2003–2005 Real Sociedad 13 (0)
2004–2005 → Numancia (loan) 15 (0)
2005–2007 Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i 48 (17)
2007–2009 Feyenoord 12 (0)
2008 Suwon Samsung Bluewings (loan) 3 (0)
2009 → Jeonnam Dragons (loan) 7 (4)
2009–2010 Al-Nassr 16 (3)
2010–2011 Omiya Ardija 43 (8)
2013–2015 Incheon United 67 (5)
Total 260 (52)
National team
1999–2000 South Korea U20 14 (20)
1999–2006 South Korea U23 28 (11)
2000–2008 South Korea 78 (10)
Honours
Representing  South Korea
Men's football
AFC Asian Cup
Bronze 2007 Indonesia/Malaysia
/Thailand/Vietnam
Team
Asian Games
Bronze 2002 Busan Team
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only.
† Appearances (Goals).
Lee Chun-soo
Hangul 이천수
Hanja 李天秀
Revised Romanization I Cheon-su
McCune–Reischauer I Ch'ŏnsu

Lee Chun-soo (Hangul: 이천수; born 9 July 1981) is a retired South Korean football player. He played as a forward for the South Korea national team at the 2002 and 2006 editions of the FIFA World Cup.

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. After becoming a World Cup semi-finalist and the top assist provider of the K League at the tender age of 19, he was named the Asian Young Footballer of the Year by the Asian Football Confederation.

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.

Lee failed in Spain due to the difference in level between the La Liga and the K League, but he was still one of the best South Korean footballers. Although he rejoined Ulsan in mid-season, his performance was invaluable for the capture of the 2005 league. He especially scored a hat trick in the first leg of the championship final. He was subsequently named the K League's Most Valuable Player.

The next year, he left a memorable game against Gamba Osaka at the A3 Champions Cup. He played only 45 minutes of the game due to a cold, but scored a hat-trick.

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. 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.

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.

Incheon United

In March 2010, he left Al-Nassr because the club did not give his wages for three months. 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. 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.

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.

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, 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.

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. 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.

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.

After retirement

In 2005, he took a special seminar at Goyang Baekyang Middle School with Chung Mong-joon, president of the Korea Football Association.

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.

In December 2015, he appeared on the King of Mask Singer show and displayed his singing skills.

As of March 2016, he is a commentator for JTBC3 Fox Sports.

In June 2021, Lee signed a contract with DH Entertainment.

Career statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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
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  Laos 3–0 9–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
2 7 April 2000 Seoul, South Korea 2  Mongolia 5–0 6–0 2000 AFC Asian Cup qualification
3 13 September 2001 Daejeon, South Korea 11  Nigeria 1–2 2–2 Friendly
4 16 May 2002 Busan, South Korea 23  Scotland 1–0 4–1 Friendly
5 8 September 2004 Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam 40  Vietnam 2–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup qualification
6 29 January 2006 Hong Kong 54  Croatia 2–0 2–0 2006 Lunar New Year Cup
7 22 February 2006 Aleppo, Syria 58  Syria 2–1 2–1 2007 AFC Asian Cup qualification
8 13 June 2006 Frankfurt, Germany 63  Togo 1–1 2–1 2006 FIFA World Cup
9 6 February 2007 London, England 68  Greece 1–0 1–0 Friendly
10 29 June 2007 Seogwipo, South Korea 71  Iraq 2–0 3–0 Friendly

Filmography

Television

Year Title Role Note(s) Ref.
2021 Golden Eleven 2 Himself
2021 Brad PT & GYM Carry Himself
2022–present Mr. House Husband 2 Himself
2022 Gundesliga Himself

Web series

Year Title Role Ref.
2021 Ssangssang Invitational Himself

Honours

Player

Ulsan Hyundai Horang-i

  • K League 1: 2005
  • Korean League Cup: 2007
  • Korean Super Cup: 2006
  • A3 Champions Cup: 2006

Feyenoord

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

Incheon United

  • Korean FA Cup runner-up: 2015

South Korea U23

  • Asian Games bronze medal: 2002

South Korea

Individual

  • K League 1 top assist provider: 2002
  • K League Rookie of the Year: 2002
  • K League 1 Best XI: 2002, 2005
  • AFC Youth Player of the Year: 2002
  • K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2005
  • A3 Champions Cup Most Valuable Player: 2006
  • A3 Champions Cup top goalscorer: 2006
  • AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2007
  • Korean FA Goal of the Year: 2007

Television personality

List of awards and nominations received by TV personality Lee Chun-soo
Award ceremony Year Category Nominated work Result Ref.
KBS Entertainment Awards 2022 Top Excellence Award in Reality Category Mr. House Husband 2 Won

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Lee Chun-soo para niños

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