Lee Jung-soo

Lee Jung-soo is a South Korean football coach and former professional player, known for his defensive reliability and leadership. As a centre-back, he earned 56 caps for the South Korea national team and scored 4 goals, featuring prominently in the 2010 FIFA World Cup. His club career spanned nearly two decades across the K League and Japan's J.League, where he won multiple domestic titles with Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Kashima Antlers. Standing 1.85 meters tall, his physical presence and tactical understanding made him a respected figure in Asian football.

Since retiring in April 2017, Lee has built a second career in coaching. He served as assistant coach for the Vietnam national team under Park Hang-seo, then followed him to Kanchanaburi FC in Thailand, where he now holds the head coach position. Known for his dedication to the sport, Lee continues to contribute to football in Asia, admired for his defensive acumen and ability to work within established coaching structures. His current role at Kanchanaburi FC underscores his commitment to developing the game in new markets. [edit]

Lee Jung-soo was born on January 8, 1980, in Gimhae, a city in South Gyeongsang Province. Growing up in South Korea, he developed a passion for football at an early age, joining youth development programs that honed his skills as a defender. His birth sign is Capricorn, and he stands 1.85 meters tall, a physical attribute that set him apart from peers.

He entered professional football in the early 2000s, making his mark in the K League. His performances caught the attention of scouts, leading to a move to Japan's J.League, where he joined Kashima Antlers. This international experience proved formative, exposing him to a different style of play and raising his tactical awareness. By the mid-2000s, Lee had established himself as a reliable centre-back, earning a call-up to the South Korea national team and laying the groundwork for a distinguished international career. [edit]

Lee Jung-soo's breakthrough came with his selection for the South Korea national team, where he earned 56 caps and scored 4 goals. His most memorable moment arrived at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, when his equalizing goal against Nigeria in the group stage helped secure South Korea's advancement to the knockout rounds. That strike became a defining highlight of his career.

At club level, Lee enjoyed success with Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K League and Kashima Antlers in Japan's J.League, winning multiple domestic titles. He announced his retirement in April 2017. Transitioning to coaching, he joined the Vietnam national team as assistant coach under Park Hang-seo, contributing to the team's regional achievements. In April 2026, he left Vietnam and was appointed head coach of Kanchanaburi FC in the Thai League 1, a role he continues to hold. [edit]

Lee Jung-soo's public image is that of a disciplined, professional defender known for his leadership and defensive reliability. During his playing days, he was regarded as a veteran leader on the pitch, particularly during the 2010 World Cup campaign. In coaching, he is seen as a trusted lieutenant to Park Hang-seo, known for his tactical understanding and ability to work within established coaching structures.

Korean football fans generally hold him in respect for his international service and club achievements. No official fandom name or signature style has been documented, but his steady presence and commitment to the sport have earned him admiration within Asian football circles. His media presence is primarily through sports journalism, with The Chosun Daily publishing extensive coverage of him. [edit]

For decades, the name Lee Jung-soo has resonated not with the roar of organized mobs or the glow of viral billboards, but with the steady, quiet respect of a generation who watched him anchor defenses from Seoul to Tokyo. Unlike the K-pop idols whose fans coordinate subway campaigns, his supporters are scattered across casual match attendees and tactical analysts who appreciate his longevity in both the K League and Japan's J.League. There is no formalized legion with a specific moniker like "Army" or "Blink" rallying behind him; instead, his audience consists of general sports followers who view his career as a masterclass in professional consistency rather than celebrity spectacle. The transition from a celebrated defender to an international coach has maintained this low-profile reverence without sparking the cultural mythology often seen in entertainment circles. In the broader landscape of global recognition, Lee Jung-soo remains a significant figure within Asian football history, yet he operates outside the top-tier visibility metrics that define modern superstars. As of August 2026, the iFANN Global Fame Engine has evaluated his profile, but he does not currently hold a placement in the published rankings for the Global Top 1,000 or any Top-100 scope list. This absence of a numeric rank reflects a status where influence is deep and specialized rather than broad and mass-market. While his name appears frequently in historical records of the 2010 World Cup and coaching rosters for Vietnam and Thailand, it does not generate the high-volume search signals or media consumption required to crack the elite global tiers. His fame is rooted in the specific, enduring legacy of his defensive reliability and leadership, standing firm among the greats of Asian football without needing the noise of global trending lists.[edit]

Lee Jung-soo's 2010 World Cup goal against Nigeria stands as a defining moment in his playing career, a dramatic late equalizer that secured South Korea's advancement from the group stage. His professional journey is marked by a rare dual mastery of the K League and Japan's J.League at a high level, a distinction shared by only a select few Korean athletes. Following his retirement in 2017, he moved quickly into coaching, initially serving as a trusted lieutenant to Park Hang-seo with the Vietnam national team before their partnership extended to Kanchanaburi FC in Thailand. This appointment represents a unique reunion, continuing their successful collaboration in a new market while solidifying Lee's reputation as a tactician capable of adapting to different football cultures. Though he lacks the viral folklore of pop stars, his story is one of sustained excellence, transitioning seamlessly from a veteran leader on the pitch to a key architect of national team strategies abroad.[edit]

Lee Jung-soo is married to Yuny Han. The couple maintains a private personal life, with few public details about their wedding date or family life. No information about children from this marriage has been publicly confirmed. Lee has kept his family largely out of the public eye, focusing public attention on his professional career. His spouse is confirmed in official biographical records, but no further details have been shared. [edit]

Lee Jung-soo is closely associated with Park Hang-seo, having served as his assistant at the Vietnam national team and now at Kanchanaburi FC. He also maintains strong ties to Suwon Samsung Bluewings, his final club as a player, which announced his retirement. His international career connected him with teammates from the 2010 World Cup squad. [edit]

Lee Jung-soo has maintained a notably private personal life, with limited public information about his romantic relationships. He is married to Yuny Han, though details about when and how they met, their wedding date, or whether they have children have not been publicly disclosed. The couple has kept their marriage largely out of the public eye, and no other public relationships or rumored pairings have been reported by credible media. As of 2026, Lee remains married to Yuny Han, with no reports of separation or divorce. [edit]

As of 2026, per iFANN's editorial analysis, Lee Jung-soo's net worth is estimated at $10 Million. This figure reflects the substantial earnings accumulated over a nearly two-decade professional career spanning major clubs like Suwon Samsung Bluewings and Kashima Antlers. Unlike global superstars whose finances are tracked by celebrity sites, his wealth is built on competitive salaries earned during his time as a central defender and later through his coaching roles with the Vietnam national team and Kanchanaburi FC. While coaching positions in these regions do not match the lucrative contracts found in top European leagues, they provide a steady and significant income stream that complements his playing days. No major endorsement deals or external business ventures have been publicly reported, keeping his financial profile modest compared to global icons but robust enough to reflect his long-standing status as a respected figure in Asian football.[edit]