Lee Myung-jae

In this Korean name, the family name is Lee.

Lee Myung-jae (Korean: 이명재; Hanja: 李明載; born 4 November 1993) is a South Korean footballer who plays as a left-back for K League 1 club Daejeon Hana Citizen and the South Korea national team.^[1]

Lee Myung-jae

Lee in 2024
Personal information
Date of birth	(1993-11-04) 4 November 1993 (age 31)
Place of birth	Seoul, South Korea
Height	1.81 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position(s)	Left back
Team information
Current team	Daejeon Hana Citizen
Number	16
Youth career
2012–2013	Hongik University
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2014–2025	Ulsan HD	193	(1)
2014	→ Albirex Niigata (loan)	5	(0)
2020–2021	→ Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)	8	(0)
2025	Birmingham City	3	(0)
2025–	Daejeon Hana Citizen	3	(1)
International career‡
2012–2013	South Korea U20	5	(0)
2014–2015	South Korea U23	6	(0)
2024–	South Korea	7	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 27 July 2025 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 19 November 2024

Lee Myung-jae
Hangul	이명재
Hanja	李明載
RR	I Myeongjae
MR	I Myŏngjae

Club career

Ulsan HD

Lee joined Ulsan Hyundai in 2014 and made his league debut against Incheon United on 23 March 2014. He was loaned to Albirex Niigata on 24 June 2014.

Birmingham City

On 3 February 2025, after 11 years at Ulsan HD, Lee signed on a free transfer for English EFL League One team Birmingham City until the end of the 2024-25 season, joining compatriot Paik Seung-ho at the club.^[2] He eventually made his debut on 18 April, replacing established left-back Alex Cochrane during the second half of a goalless draw at home to Crawley Town.^[3]

On 20 May 2025, the club announced he would be leaving in June when his contract expired.^[4]

International career

Lee was a member of the South Korea national U-20 team for the 2014 Toulon Tournament.

Lee made his debut for the senior South Korea national team on 21 March 2024 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Thailand.^[5]

In the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Iraq on 15 October 2024, Lee Myung-jae completely deceived the opponent and assisted Lee Jae-seong's headed goal with an accurate cross.^[6]

Club statistics

As of match played 27 July 2025^[7]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup[a]		League cup[b]		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Ulsan HD	2014	K League 1	2	0	1[c]	0	—		1[d]	0	4	0
	2015	K League 1	19	0	0	0	—		—		19	0
	2016	K League 1	5	0	1[c]	0	—		—		6	0
	2017	K League 1	32	1	4	0	—		1[d]	0	37	1
	2018	K League 1	32	0	3	0	—		6[d]	0	41	0
	2019	K League 1	24	0	1[c]	0	—		7[d]	0	32	0
	2021	K League 1	2	0	1	0	—		4[d]	0	7	0
	2022	K League 1	19	0	2	0	—		5[d]	0	26	0
	2023	K League 1	30	0	1	0	—		4[d]	1	35	1
	2024	K League 1	28	0	4	0	—		10[d]	1	42	1
	Total		193	1	18	0	—		38	2	249	3
Albirex Niigata (loan)	2014	J1 League	5	0	0	0	0	0	—		5	0
Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)	2020	K League 1	0	0	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2021	K League 2	8	0	1[c]	0	—		—		9	0
	Total		8	0	1	0	—		—		9	0
Birmingham City	2024–25	League One	3	0	0	0	—		0	0	3	0
Daejeon Hana Citizen	2025	K League 1	3	1	—		—		—		3	1
Career total			212	2	19	0	0	0	38	2	269	4

1. Includes KFA Cup, Emperor's Cup, FA Cup
2. Includes J. League Cup
3. This cell includes a match not covered by general source Soccerway and sourced to JoinKFA.com.^[8]
4. Appearances in AFC Champions League (Elite)

Honours

Ulsan HD

• K League 1: 2022, 2023, 2024
• Korean FA Cup: 2017

Gimcheon Sangmu

• K League 2: 2021

Birmingham City

• EFL League One: 2024-25

Individual

• K League 1 Best XI: 2024