Lee Woon-jae facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Lee Woon-jae

Lee with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Lee Woon-jae
Date of birth	(1973-04-26) 26 April 1973 (age 52)
Place of birth	Cheongju, Chungbuk, South Korea
Height	1.82 m (5 ft 11+1⁄2 in)
Playing position	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1986–1988	Cheongju Daeseong Middle School
1989–1991	Cheongju Commercial High School [ko]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps†	(Gls)†
1996–2010	Suwon Samsung Bluewings	267	(0)
2000–2001	→ Sangmu FC (draft)
2011–2012	Jeonnam Dragons	63	(0)
Total		330	(0)
National team
1994–2002	South Korea U23	32	(0)
1993	South Korea B
1994–2010	South Korea	133	(0)
Teams managed
2024–2025	Vietnam (Goalkeeper coach)
Honours Representing  South Korea Men's football Summer Universiade Silver 1993 Buffalo Team AFC Asian Cup Bronze 2000 Lebanon Team Bronze 2007 Indonesia/Malaysia /Thailand/Vietnam Team Asian Games Bronze 2002 Busan Team EAFF Championship Gold 2003 Japan Team Silver 2010 Japan Team East Asian Games Gold 1993 Shanghai Team Representing  Vietnam (as manager) ASEAN Championship Winner 2024
Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only. † Appearances (Goals).

Lee Woon-jae (Hangul: 이운재; born 26 April 1973) is a famous South Korean former football goalkeeper. He is known for being a key player in South Korea's teams for the 1994, 2002, 2006, and 2010 FIFA World Cup. He was even nominated as one of the best goalkeepers of the 21st century by IFFHS, a group that keeps football records.

Lee Woon-jae's International Football Career

Lee Woon-jae was part of the South Korean national team for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. During a game against Germany, he came in as a substitute goalkeeper. He played for 45 minutes and didn't let any goals in! After this World Cup, he faced some health challenges but worked hard to recover. He made a great comeback to the national team in 1998.

Becoming a World Cup Star in 2002

Lee Woon-jae was chosen as the main goalkeeper for the 2002 FIFA World Cup. This was a huge deal for South Korea! He played in all seven matches, helping his team keep a "clean sheet" (meaning no goals were scored against them) in games against Poland, Portugal, and Spain.

In the quarter-finals against Spain, the game ended in a tie, so it went to a penalty shoot-out. Lee Woon-jae made an amazing save, blocking Spain's fourth shot. This helped South Korea win 5–3 on penalties! It was a historic moment, as South Korea became the first Asian team to reach the semi-finals of the World Cup. The team finished in an impressive fourth place.

Leading the Team in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup

Lee Woon-jae also captained South Korea in the 2007 AFC Asian Cup. He was a fantastic leader, especially when the team's usual captain was injured. He kept clean sheets in all the knockout stage games. He also saved three penalties in shoot-outs, two against Iran and one against Japan. Because of his excellent performance, he was chosen as the best goalkeeper in the All-Star XI for the tournament.

Playing in Four World Cups

Lee Woon-jae is one of only two players in the world to be selected for four World Cups between 1994 and 2010. He played his last game for the national team in August 2010, in a friendly match against Nigeria, which South Korea won 2–1. After this, he retired from playing for his country.

Lee Woon-jae's Unique Playing Style: The "Spider Hand"

In South Korea, Lee Woon-jae was nicknamed the "Spider Hand." This nickname shows how amazing his saves were! Many people consider him one of the greatest South Korean goalkeepers ever.

Even though he wasn't the tallest or fastest player, he had incredible judgment. He worked very well with his defenders, making the team's defense strong. He was also known for being able to guess where the ball would go, especially during penalty shoot-outs. This skill made him incredibly good at saving penalties. In the K League, he won 92% of matches that went to a penalty shoot-out, saving 26 out of 58 shots!

Lee Woon-jae's TV Appearances

Besides his football career, Lee Woon-jae has also appeared on television shows:

• 2015: Cheongchun FC Hungry Eleven - He appeared as himself.
• 2018: Escape Nest Season 3 - He appeared as himself.
• 2019: Let's Eat Dinner Together - He was a guest in Episode 133.
• 2022: Gundesliga - He appeared as himself.

Awards and Achievements

Lee Woon-jae won many awards and championships throughout his career, both with his clubs and with the national team.

Club Achievements

Suwon Samsung Bluewings

• K League 1 Champion: 1998, 1999, 2004, 2008
• Korean FA Cup Winner: 2002, 2009, 2010
• Korean League Cup Winner: 1999, 1999 (Supplementary Cup), 2005, 2008
• Korean Super Cup Winner: 1999, 2005
• Asian Club Championship Winner: 2001–02
• Asian Super Cup Winner: 2002
• A3 Champions Cup Winner: 2005
• Pan-Pacific Championship Winner: 2009

Sangmu FC

• Korean Semi-professional Championship Winner: 2001

National Team Achievements

South Korea U23

• Asian Games bronze medal: 2002

South Korea B

• Summer Universiade silver medal: 1993
• East Asian Games Gold Medal: 1993

South Korea

• AFC Asian Cup third place: 2000, 2007
• EAFF Championship Winner: 2003

Individual Awards

• K League All-Star: He was chosen for the All-Star team many times between 1998 and 2009.
• K League 1 Best XI: He was one of the best 11 players in the K League in 1999, 2002, 2004, and 2008.
• EAFF Championship Best Goalkeeper: 2005
• AFC Asian Cup Team of the Tournament: 2007
• K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2008
• Korean FA Cup Most Valuable Player: 2009
• AFC Opta All-time XI at the FIFA World Cup: 2020

See also

In Spanish: Lee Woon-jae para niños