Lee Dong-gyeong (; born 20 September 1997) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Ulsan HD and the South Korea national team.
Club career Ulsan HD Prior to the 2018 season, Lee dropped out of Hongik University and joined K League 1 club Ulsan Hyundai (renamed Ulsan HD in 2024). On 29 July 2018, he made his professional debut in a 1–1 draw with Jeju United. After making his first appearance at Ulsan, he was loaned to K League 2 club FC Anyang for the second half of the season.
During the 2019 season, he found his spot at Ulsan, playing 25 K League 1 matches. On 18 May 2019, Lee scored his first professional goal in a 3–1 win over Suwon Samsung Bluewings.
Before the start of the 2020 season, he considered moving to Major League Soccer club Vancouver Whitecaps FC, but decided to stay at Ulsan to prepare for the 2020 Summer Olympics held in Japan. However, manager Kim Do-hoon did not use him as a main player, and so he tried to negotiate with Primeira Liga club Boavista in September. He already said goodbye to his teammates, but the transfer was not realised due to a conflict about his agent's commission. He was able to regain his spot after manager Kim left the club the next year.
Loan to Schalke 04 On 31 January 2022, Lee joined 2. Bundesliga club Schalke 04 on loan until the end of the season, with an option to buy. On 13 February, he made his Schalke debut as a 60th-minute substitute in a 2–1 defeat to Fortuna Düsseldorf. After his first match, he injured his metatarsal bones, not being able to play any more matches for the club. Schalke extended the loan deal until the end of 2022 in the summer, but excluded him from their matches at the beginning of the next season despite his recovery.
Loan to Hansa Rostock On 1 September, Lee was loaned to 2. Bundesliga club Hansa Rostock after terminating the contract with Schalke early. During the 2022–23 season, he usually played as a substitute for Rostock, making 12 appearances including two starts at the 2. Bundesliga. In the middle of the season, manager Patrick Glöckner pointed out Lee's physical weakness, and demanded to increase workrate and intensity of tussles from him.
Enlistment in Gimcheon Sangmu In June 2024, Lee enlisted in Gimcheon Sangmu, the military football club of the K League 1, after military recruit training for four weeks. He had seven goals and five assists in eight league matches during March and April before enlistment, but lost momentum due to the four-week training. Despite this, he reached double-digit goals in a season for the first time.
In the 2025 season, Lee had 13 goals and 11 assists in 34 matches, while leading Gimcheon to finish third at the K League 1. He received the K League Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season.
International career In June 2018, Lee was called up to the South Korea under-23 team for a training camp prior to the 2018 Asian Games. He made his international debut in a 2–1 win over Indonesia on 23 June, but was not selected for their squad for the Asian Games in August.
In March 2019, Lee scored six goals in three qualifiers of the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship, leading the team to advance to the final tournament. During the tournament, he scored the winner with a free-kick won by himself in the 2–1 quarter-final win over Jordan, scored another goal in the 2–0 semi-final win over Australia, and supplied a cross converted into the match's only goal in the 1–0 final win over Saudi Arabia.
Lee participated at the 2020 Summer Olympics. He was criticised for refusing a handshake with Chris Wood at the end of the 1–0 defeat to New Zealand, although the Korea Football Association explained that he was told to avoid unnecessary physical contacts to prevent COVID-19. In the quarter-finals against Mexico, he scored a brace, but his team lost 6–3.
Under Paulo Bento, Lee played six matches including four FIFA World Cup qualifiers for the senior national team, but was not called up for the 2022 FIFA World Cup. He also did not appear on the field at the 2026 FIFA World Cup despite being named in the South Korea squad for the tournament. In July 2026, he attempted to join EFL Championship club Stoke City, but his absence at the World Cup led to his lack of points required for a work permit.
Career statistics Club
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueCupContinentalTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsUlsan HD2018K League 1100000102019K League 125300312842020K League 118251102432021K League 128620313372023K League 19200401322024K League 18700611482025K League 1200020402026K League 1291100203111Total120317121314835FC Anyang (loan)2018K League 210000—100Schalke 04 (loan)2021–222. Bundesliga10——10Hansa Rostock (loan)2022–232. Bundesliga12000—120Gimcheon Sangmu (draft)2024K League 118510—1952025K League 1341300—3413Total521810—5318Total195498121322453
International
+ Appearances and goals by national team and yearNational teamYearAppsGoalsSouth Korea201920202141202210202310202410202572202652Total215
Scores and results list South Korea's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Lee goal.
+ List of international goals scored by Lee Dong-gyeongNo.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition1 9 June 2021 Goyang Stadium, Goyang, South Korea 2–0 5–0 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification2 7 July 2025 Yongin Mireu Stadium, Yongin, South Korea 1–0 3–0 2025 EAFF Championship3 6 September 2025 Sports Illustrated Stadium, Harrison, United States 2–0 2–0 Friendly4 3 June 2026 South Field, Provo, United States 1–0 1–0 Friendly5 24 September 2026 Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon, South Korea 3–0 3–0 Friendly
Honours Ulsan Hyundai K League 1: 2023 AFC Champions League: 2020
Schalke 04 2. Bundesliga: 2021–22
South Korea U23 AFC U-23 Championship: 2020
South Korea EAFF Championship runner-up: 2025
Individual K League Goal of the Month: July 2020 K League Player of the Month: October 2021, March 2024, April 2024 K League All-Star: 2024, 2025, 2026 K League 1 Best XI: 2024, 2025 K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2025
Notes
References
External links Lee Dong-gyeong at KFA