Lee Sang-min (footballer, born 1998)

1.1. Youth club and university career

Lee Sang-min commenced his youth football career at Ulsan Hyundai High School, where he played from 2013 to 2015. Following his high school tenure, he further honed his skills at Soongsil University, playing for their football team from 2016 to 2017. During his time at both institutions, he demonstrated significant progress and leadership potential, which ultimately prepared him for his professional debut.

2.1. Ulsan Hyundai and V-Varen Nagasaki

Lee Sang-min joined K League 1 club Ulsan Hyundai FC in 2018, signing a priority nomination contract. Although he did not make any competitive appearances for Ulsan Hyundai during the 2018 season, he gained valuable experience within the professional setup. In 2019, he was loaned to J2 League club V-Varen Nagasaki in Japan alongside teammate Lee Jong-ho. He made his professional debut on April 27 in a J2 League match against Kagoshima United FC. During his loan spell in Japan, he made 16 league appearances, along with 4 appearances in the Emperor's Cup and 5 appearances in the J.League Cup.

2.2. Seoul E-Land FC

For the 2020 season, Lee Sang-min moved to K League 2 club Seoul E-Land FC on a loan deal from Ulsan Hyundai. He quickly became an integral part of the team's defense, making 26 league appearances and 1 appearance in the Korean FA Cup. His consistent performances led to a full transfer to Seoul E-Land FC in 2021. In his first season as a permanent player, he continued to impress, featuring in 28 league matches and scoring his first professional goal, alongside 1 appearance in the FA Cup.

2.3. FC Seoul and Gimcheon Sangmu

In 2022, Lee Sang-min completed a full transfer to K League 1 club FC Seoul. He seamlessly integrated into the team's defensive line, making 25 league appearances and scoring 1 goal, while also participating in 5 matches in the FA Cup. In 2023, Lee was loaned to Gimcheon Sangmu FC for his mandatory military service, a standard requirement for South Korean male professional athletes. During his time with Gimcheon Sangmu, he remained a key player, featuring in 27 league matches and contributing 2 goals. As of the 2024 season, he continues his service with Gimcheon Sangmu.

3.1. Youth national teams

Lee Sang-min's international career began with the South Korea U-14 team in 2012, where he earned 2 caps. He then progressed to the South Korea U-17 team from 2013 to 2015, making 24 appearances and scoring 1 goal. He notably served as the captain for the U-17 squad at the 2015 FIFA U-17 World Cup. His leadership continued with the South Korea U-20 team from 2016 to 2017, where he made 15 appearances and again captained the team at the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in South Korea.

From 2017 to 2021, Lee was a key member of the South Korea U-23 team, earning 22 caps and scoring 1 goal. He captained the U-23 team to its historic first-ever championship title at the 2020 AFC U-23 Championship in Thailand. He also participated in the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo (held in 2021), where he was part of the U-23 squad and served as captain, making an appearance in the opening group stage match against New Zealand. Additionally, he represented South Korea in the Universiade in 2017, making 5 appearances. He also gained experience with the U-18 and U-19 national teams, including a training trip to Germany in 2016 with the U-19 squad and participating in the AFC U-23 Championship 2020 qualifiers in 2019.

3.2. Senior national team

Lee Sang-min received his first call-up to the senior national team in July 2022 for the 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship. However, he was unable to participate due to a COVID-19 infection. In November 2022, he was once again selected for the domestic-based training squad in preparation for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

3.3. Notable incident: CPR

On March 27, 2017, during a friendly match between the South Korea U-20 team and Zambia, Lee Sang-min performed a heroic and life-saving act. When his teammate, Jeong Tae-wook, fell unconscious on the field, Lee immediately reacted by administering CPR. His swift and decisive action successfully revived Jeong Tae-wook, averting a potentially tragic outcome. For his exceptional courage and prompt intervention, Lee Sang-min was awarded a commendation from the Ministry of Health and Welfare in 2017, recognizing his significant contribution to saving a life.

5.1. Team honours

• AFC U-23 Championship: 2020
• AFC U-16 Championship: 2014 (Runner-up)

5.2. Individual awards

• KFA Best Young Player: 2015
• Ministry of Health and Welfare Commendation for CPR excellence: 2017
• AFC U-23 Best XI: 2020