The year he turned 21, he came out of Korea University and joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as a free agent. In February 2014, he started in the Champions League against Yokohama, and in October he won gold at the Incheon Asian Games. In December he was named for the first time to the national team training list.
The breakthrough yearThe year he turned 23, in March, he made his international debut against Uzbekistan, and four days later he scored his first international goal, the winning goal, against New Zealand. In December he won K League Classic Young Player of the Year.
In 2016, he was part of Jeonbuk’s AFC Champions League title. In 2017, he was named K League Classic MVP. In 2018, he played against Germany at the World Cup in Russia, and in July he joined Holstein Kiel of Germany’s 2. Bundesliga.
In 2019, he injured his toe against the Philippines at the Asian Cup, and the national team went out in the quarterfinals. In 2020, he was included in the 2. Bundesliga first-half Best XI.
In 2021, he moved to Mainz and scored his first Bundesliga goal against Bielefeld in October. In 2022, he started against Portugal at the World Cup in Qatar, as Korea reached the last 16. In 2023, he extended his contract with Mainz through 2026.
In 2024, he hit the post in the Asian Cup semifinal and was named to the AFC’s semifinal Best 11. In 2025, he assisted the winning goal as Mainz reached the last 16 of a European club competition for the first time in the club’s history, and a ceremony marked his 100 international appearances. In 2026, he started against the Czech Republic at the World Cup in North America, and Korea went out in the group stage with one win and two losses.
Lee Jae-sung (born Aug 10, 1992) started his first match for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in 2014, the year he turned 22, and became known when he made his international debut against Uzbekistan on Mar 27, 2015, the year he turned 23. In 2021, the year he turned 29, he scored his first Bundesliga goal for Mainz.
Ages are by calendar year (the year minus the birth year), birthdays aside.
Coming out of Korea University, he joined Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors as a free agent.
Source 01 · Asia Economy (Korean) · Jeonbuk signs Jung Jong-hee and Lee Jae-sung as free agents · opens in a new tabIn his first pro season, he started in the first round of the AFC Champions League against Yokohama. He was substituted in the 13th minute of the second half, and Jeonbuk won 3-0.
Source 02 · Goal.com (Korean) · Jeonbuk beat Yokohama 3-0 · opens in a new tabSource 03 · Sportalkorea (Korean) · K League Classic, new faces a day before · opens in a new tabThe men’s football team beat North Korea 1-0 to win its first gold medal in 28 years. Lee was substituted off injured in the 19th minute of the first half of the final, and the gold medal earned him military service benefits.
Source 04 · OSEN (Korean) · Choi Kang-hee gives Lee Jae-sung a rest first · opens in a new tabHis name appeared for the first time on the list of 28 players for the final training camp before the 2015 Asian Cup in Australia, announced by head coach Uli Stielike. He had no international appearances yet.
Source 30 · Footballist (Korean) · Lee Joo-yong and Lee Jae-sung, key players of the title, up to their first national team call-up · opens in a new tabStarted the friendly against Uzbekistan at Daejeon World Cup Stadium and played 86 minutes. OSEN wrote that he became a star overnight through this match.
Came on as a substitute in the 18th minute of the second half against New Zealand at Seoul World Cup Stadium and scored the winning goal with his left foot in the 40th minute. It was his first international goal, in his second international match.
Source 05 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · The ’92 line of Korean football · opens in a new tabWon Young Player of the Year at the 2015 K League Awards. In its year-end roundup, Sports Chosun named him, with Lee Jeong-hyeop and Kwon Chang-hoon, as the K League’s new generation.
Source 06 · KBS (Korean) · 2015 K League Awards winners · opens in a new tabSource 07 · Sports Chosun (Korean) · K League’s new generation · opens in a new tabEntered the 53rd Division training center in Haeundae, Busan. He received four weeks of military training because the Incheon Asian Games gold medal had earned him military service benefits.
Source 08 · Sports Times (Korean) · Four-week military training · opens in a new tabJeonbuk drew 1-1 with Al Ain in the second leg of the final and won 3-2 on aggregate, taking the Asian title after 10 years. Han Kyo-won scored the opening goal from Lee’s left-footed corner kick.
Source 24 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Jeonbuk win the Asian title after 10 years · opens in a new tabWon MVP at the 2017 K League Awards. He recorded 8 goals and 10 assists in 28 K League Classic matches that season.
Source 09 · MyDaily (Korean) · Lee Jae-sung named K League Classic MVP · opens in a new tabHis name appeared as No. 17 on the list of 23 players the national team submitted to FIFA.
Source 10 · Inter Football (Korean) · Final 23-man World Cup squad · opens in a new tabIn the third group match against Germany, he played on the wings with Moon Seon-min, one on each side. Korea won 2-0 but was eliminated in the group stage.
Source 25 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Korea beat Germany but exit the group stage · opens in a new tabHolstein Kiel of Germany’s 2. Bundesliga announced the signing. His squad number is 7.
Source 11 · Star News (Korean) · Lee Jae-sung likely to debut for Holstein Kiel · opens in a new tabHe injured his toe against the Philippines on Jan. 7, and the national team lost 0-1 to Qatar in the quarterfinals.
Source 21 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Bento’s injury curse, Lee Jae-sung rests one more week · opens in a new tabSource 12 · Hankyoreh (Korean) · Bento’s team out of the Asian Cup · opens in a new tabThe German outlet Kicker included him in its best 11 of the first half of the 2020-21 2. Bundesliga season. He had 3 goals and 2 assists.
Source 13 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · 2. Bundesliga first-half Best XI · opens in a new tabMainz 05 of Germany’s Bundesliga officially announced the signing.
Source 14 · Donghaeng Media Sidae (Korean) · Mainz announce Lee Jae-sung signing · opens in a new tabScored the opening goal away at Bielefeld, and Mainz won 2-1.
Source 15 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Lee Jae-sung’s first Bundesliga goal · opens in a new tabKorea beat Portugal to reach the last 16 for the first time in 12 years. Lee started on a flank of the attacking second line and was substituted in the 21st minute of the second half.
Source 16 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Korea beat Portugal, reach the last 16 for the first time in 12 years · opens in a new tabMainz announced it had extended his contract by two years, through 2026. The club said he had recorded 11 goals and 7 assists in 66 matches since joining in 2021.
Source 26 · SPOTV News (Korean) · Lee Jae-sung extends with Mainz to 2026 · opens in a new tabWas the only Korean player named in the Best 11 of the semifinals announced by the AFC. He hit the post once in the match against Jordan, and Korea lost 0-2.
Source 17 · SBS (Korean) · Lee Jae-sung in the Asian Cup semifinal Best 11 · opens in a new tabA ceremony marking his 100 international appearances was held before the friendly against Bolivia. It was held at Daejeon World Cup Stadium, where he made his international debut on Mar. 27, 2015.
Source 27 · Newsis (Korean) · Lee Jae-sung’s Century Club ceremony · opens in a new tabSource 28 · Sports Kyunghyang (Korean) · Bolivia match marking the Century Club · opens in a new tabAssisted the winning goal in the match against Samsunspor. Mainz reached the last 16 of a European club competition for the first time in the club’s history.
Source 18 · Newsis (Korean) · Mainz reach the last 16 of a European competition for the first time · opens in a new tabIn the first group match, he and Lee Kang-in started on the two flanks of the attacking second line. Korea came back to win 2-1 with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu.
Source 29 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · Hong Myung-bo’s team comes back to beat the Czech Republic 2-1 · opens in a new tabHe was on the bench against South Africa, and Korea lost 0-1. With one win and two losses, Korea finished third in the group and did not advance to the knockout stage.
Source 19 · Yonhap News Agency (Korean) · World Cup, 0-1 loss to South Africa · opens in a new tabSource 20 · Sports Donga (Korean) · North American World Cup group stage results · opens in a new tabEND OF SELECTED RECORDSSelected records, 2013–2026 · not a complete list of work. “Key moment” is an editorial label, not a measure of success.
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AgeTrail lines up the key moments of a life by age.
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Sports · South Korea
Aug 10, 1992 —
Ages are counted from the birth year 1992: the year of the event minus 1992, birthdays aside. “Key moment” labels and the connecting story are AgeTrail's editorial reading.
Fact-checked: 2026.10.06 · An independent archive, not affiliated with the person or their agency.