Lee Hyun-ju (footballer)

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

For other people, see Lee Hyun-joo.

Lee Hyun-ju (Korean: 이현주; born 7 February 2003) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a winger and attacking midfielder for Primeira Liga club Arouca and the South Korea national team.

Lee Hyun-ju

Personal information
Date of birth	(2003-02-07) 7 February 2003 (age 22)
Place of birth	Ansan, Gyeonggi, South Korea
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[1]
Position(s)	Winger, attacking midfielder
Team information
Current team	Arouca
Number	14
Youth career
2012–2015	Tree Mers
2016–2021	Pohang Steelers[note 1]
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2022	Pohang Steelers	0	(0)
2022	→ Bayern Munich II (loan)	8	(3)
2022–2025	Bayern Munich II	18	(7)
2023–2024	→ Wehen Wiesbaden (loan)	28	(4)
2024–2025	→ Hannover 96 (loan)	24	(3)
2025–	Arouca	3	(0)
International career‡
2017	South Korea U14	2	(1)
2018–2019	South Korea U17	8	(6)
2022–	South Korea U23	4	(0)
2024–	South Korea	1	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23 August 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 14 November 2024

Lee Hyun-ju
Hangul	이현주
RR	I Hyeonju
MR	I Hyŏnju

Early life

Lee spent his youth career at Tree Mers FC in Ansan and Pohang Steelers.^[2]

Club career

Bayern Munich II

In January 2022, Lee joined German giants Bayern Munich from Pohang Steelers on a year-long loan deal, with the option to make the deal permanent.^[3] After impressing with the club's reserve team while on loan, Bayern Munich took up the option to make the deal permanent in August 2022, with Lee signing a deal through 2025.^[4][5] He played for the reserve team at the Regionalliga Bayern.

On 7 July 2023, Lee was loaned to recently promoted 2. Bundesliga club Wehen Wiesbaden for the 2023–24 season.^[6] On 23 June 2024, he extended his contract with Bayern Munich until 2027 and was loaned to another 2. Bundesliga club Hannover 96 for the 2024–25 season, with an option to make the move permanent.^[7] He had performed various roles in Bayern's midfield,^[8] whereas he mostly played as a winger at the two clubs.^[9][10]

Arouca

On 23 July 2025, Lee moved to Portugal and joined Primeira Liga club Arouca, permanently for an estimated €1.5 million fee. The figure was Arouca's highest-ever transfer fee.^[11] On 9 August, he provided an assist in a 3–1 win over AVS, where he made his Primeira Liga debut.^[12]

International career

Lee has represented South Korea at various youth levels.^[1][2][13] He was called up to the South Korea Olympic team in September 2022, in preparation for the 2024 Summer Olympics.^[14]

Lee received his first call-up with the South Korea national team for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Kuwait and Palestine on 14 and 19 November 2024, respectively.^[15][16] He made his debut against Kuwait.^[17]

Personal life

Lee has named Joshua Kimmich as a player he idolises, while also crediting Jamal Musiala as a similarly-aged player he looks up to.^[3][18]

Career statistics

Club

As of matches played 23 August 2025^[19]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Pohang Steelers	2022	K League 1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
Bayern Munich II (loan)	2021–22	Regionalliga Bayern	6	1	—		—		6	1
	2022–23	Regionalliga Bayern	2	2	—		—		2	2
	Total		8	3	—		—		8	3
Bayern Munich II	2022–23	Regionalliga Bayern	18	7	—		—		18	7
Wehen Wiesbaden (loan)	2023–24	2. Bundesliga	28	4	1	0	2[a]	0	31	4
Hannover 96 (loan)	2024–25	2. Bundesliga	24	3	0	0	—		24	3
Arouca	2025–26	Primeira Liga	3	0	0	0	—		3	0
Career total			81	17	1	0	2	0	84	17

1. Appearances in 2. Bundesliga relegation play-offs

International

As of match played 14 November 2024

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
South Korea	2024	1	0
Total		1	0

Notes

1. Played for Pohang Jecheol Middle School [ko] from 2016 to 2018, and Pohang Jecheol High School [ko] from 2019 to 2021, which were academies of Pohang Steelers.