1. Playing Career
Lee Kyung-ryul's professional football career spanned from 2010 to 2019, seeing him play for several prominent South Korean clubs, including Gyeongnam FC, Busan IPark, Sangju Sangmu FC, Jeonnam Dragons, and Seoul E-Land FC. He was noted for his consistent defensive performances and leadership qualities, particularly during his time as captain at Busan IPark.
1.1. Early Career
Lee Kyung-ryul began his professional career in 2010, joining Gyeongnam FC. In his debut season, he appeared in 5 league matches. By the 2011 season, he had established himself as a regular starter, often playing as a central defender alongside Luke DeVere or on either side as a full-back.
1.2. Busan IPark
Before the 2012 season, Lee moved to Busan IPark in a trade involving Yu Ho-jun. At Busan, he consistently held a starting position as a centre-back. His leadership qualities were recognized when he was appointed vice-captain in 2014 and subsequently promoted to team captain for the 2015 season. During the 2015 K League Classic season, as captain, he played in 36 league matches and scored 3 goals, demonstrating a strong effort despite the team's eventual relegation to K League 2.
1.3. Military Service and Return
Following the 2015 season, Lee Kyung-ryul enlisted for military service and joined Sangju Sangmu FC, a team specifically for professional footballers fulfilling their mandatory military duties. After completing his service, he returned to Busan IPark on 13 September 2017.
1.4. Later Career and Retirement
In preparation for the 2018 season, Lee Kyung-ryul transferred to K League 1 club Jeonnam Dragons, where he was joined by former teammate Yoon Dong-min. He later moved to Seoul E-Land FC for the 2019 season, making 15 appearances for the club. Lee announced his retirement from active play after the conclusion of the 2019 season.
1.5. Club Career Statistics
| Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Play-offs | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | League | KFA Cup | League Cup | Play-offs | Total | |||||||
| 2010 | Gyeongnam FC | K League 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 |
| 2011 | 20 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 0 | - | - | 27 | 2 | ||
| 2012 | Busan IPark | 39 | 1 | 1 | 0 | - | - | - | 40 | 1 | ||
| 2013 | 22 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 24 | 0 | ||
| 2014 | 30 | 2 | 2 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 32 | 2 | ||
| 2015 | 34 | 3 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 2 | 0 | 37 | 3 | ||
| 2016 | Sangju Sangmu | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 | |
| 2017 | 11 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | ||
| 2017 | Busan IPark | K League 2 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Career total | 173 | 10 | 7 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 190 | 10 | ||
2. Post-Retirement Activities
After retiring as a professional player, Lee Kyung-ryul transitioned into youth coaching and scouting. On 5 January 2020, he was appointed as the head coach for Seoul E-Land FC's U-12 youth team. By 2020, he had taken on a new role as a youth scout for Suwon Samsung Bluewings in the K League 1.
3. Other Activities
Lee Kyung-ryul was involved in a notable public incident on 3 April 2016. While serving in the military with Sangju Sangmu FC, he and several teammates, including Lee Yong, Kim Sung-hwan, Park Jin-po, Kim Sung-joo, Kim Sung-jun, and Cho Young-cheol, were on an outing in Mungyeong, Gyeongbuk. During their outing, they successfully apprehended a pickpocket. For this act of civic heroism, they were awarded a commendation for good deeds on 9 April.