1. Early Life and Youth Career
Lee Yeong-jae was born on September 13, 1994, in Seoul, South Korea. He began his footballing journey at a young age, developing his skills through various school and academy teams. From 2003 to 2006, he attended Seoul Sungsin Elementary School, where he first honed his abilities. He then continued his youth development at Ildong Middle School from 2007 to 2009. For his high school education, Lee attended Janghoon High School from 2010 to 2011. In 2012, he was part of Hanam FC, associated with Hanam High School. His collegiate football career took him to Yongin University, where he played from 2013 to 2014, before making his transition into professional football.
2. Club Career
Lee Yeong-jae has had a dynamic professional club career, moving between several notable teams in the K League.
2.1. Ulsan Hyundai
Lee Yeong-jae joined Ulsan Hyundai in 2015, marking the beginning of his professional career. He made his league debut for the club on July 5, 2015, in a match against Jeonnam Dragons. Later that same year, on October 25, 2015, he scored his first professional goal against Jeonnam Dragons during an away game. He played for Ulsan Hyundai until 2018, contributing significantly to their success, most notably helping the team secure the KFA Cup title in 2017.
2.2. Busan IPark (Loan)
On February 8, 2016, Lee Yeong-jae moved to Busan IPark on a loan spell for the 2016 season. This move was part of a trade deal that also involved Lee Jeong-hyeop moving to Ulsan Hyundai. During his time at Busan IPark, playing in the K League 2, Lee scored his first goal for the club on April 2, 2016, in a match against Gangwon FC. He concluded his loan spell and returned to Ulsan Hyundai after the 2016 season.
2.3. Gyeongnam FC
Lee Yeong-jae transferred to Gyeongnam FC on January 5, 2019, ahead of the 2019 season. He joined the club alongside Kim Seung-jun, as Gyeongnam FC aimed to strengthen their squad for their participation in the AFC Champions League 2019. His tenure with Gyeongnam FC lasted for the 2019 season.
2.4. Gangwon FC
On July 15, 2019, Lee Yeong-jae made another move, joining Gangwon FC. This transfer was part of a deal that saw Uroš Đerić move to Gyeongnam FC, with Gangwon FC also paying a transfer fee to secure Lee's services. He remained with Gangwon FC through the 2020 season, becoming an integral part of their midfield.
2.5. Suwon FC
Lee Yeong-jae's transfer to Suwon FC was officially announced on January 19, 2021. This move came after a period of negotiation that initially involved a potential exchange deal with An Byeong-jun of Suwon FC. Although the An Byeong-jun deal fell through due to medical reasons, Suwon FC proceeded to acquire Lee by paying a transfer fee. He played for Suwon FC until his mandatory military service began in late 2021.
2.6. Gimcheon Sangmu (Military Service)
As part of his mandatory military service in South Korea, Lee Yeong-jae joined Gimcheon Sangmu FC through the draft system. He was confirmed as one of the four successful candidates for Gimcheon Sangmu's 5th cohort for 2022 on December 7, 2021. He officially enlisted on December 27, 2021, at the Republic of Korea Army Training Center in Nonsan, South Chungcheong Province. During his 18 months of service, he continued to play for Gimcheon Sangmu FC. He was discharged on June 26, 2023, along with three other members of the 5th cohort, and subsequently returned to Suwon FC.
2.7. Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
On January 8, 2024, Lee Yeong-jae completed a transfer to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. Upon his arrival, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors officially referred to him as the "left-footed wizard," highlighting his distinctive playing style and technical prowess with his left foot. He continues to play for the club as of the current season.
3. International Career
Lee Yeong-jae has represented South Korea at various levels, including the youth, Olympic, and senior national teams.
3.1. Youth and Olympic Teams
Lee Yeong-jae was a key member of the South Korea U-23 national team. In February 2015, he was selected to participate in the 2015 King's Cup in Thailand, which his team won. He also played in the 2016 AFC U-23 Championship in January 2016. This tournament served as the final Asian qualifiers for the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics. Although he scored a goal in a pre-Olympic final qualification friendly match against the UAE on January 4, 2016, and was initially selected for the Olympic national team led by coach Shin Tae-yong, he was ultimately not included in the final squad for the Rio Olympics tournament. Across his appearances for the South Korea Olympic team, he played 20 games and scored 4 goals.
3.2. Senior National Team
Lee Yeong-jae received his first call-up to the senior South Korea national team on November 28, 2019, for the 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship. He made his A-match debut on December 11, 2019, in a match against the Hong Kong national team, where he was substituted in for Kim Bo-kyung in the 85th minute. He was part of the squad that won the 2019 EAFF E-1 Football Championship. He was also part of the South Korea squad that finished as runner-up in the 2022 EAFF E-1 Football Championship.
4. Career Statistics
As of November 24, 2024, Lee Yeong-jae's professional club career statistics are as follows:
| Club performance | League | Cup | Continental | Playoffs | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Club | League | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| South Korea | League | KFA Cup | Asia | Playoffs | Total | |||||||
| 2015 | Ulsan Hyundai | K League 1 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 10 | 1 | ||
| 2016 | Busan IPark (loan) | K League 2 | 17 | 1 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 19 | 2 | ||
| 2017 | Ulsan Hyundai | K League 1 | 30 | 2 | 6 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - | 41 | 3 | |
| 2018 | 22 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 5 | 2 | - | 31 | 4 | |||
| 2019 | Gyeongnam FC | 11 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 17 | 3 | ||
| Gangwon FC | 13 | 6 | - | - | - | 13 | 6 | |||||
| 2020 | 23 | 2 | 3 | 3 | - | - | 26 | 5 | ||||
| 2021 | Suwon FC | 30 | 5 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 30 | 5 | |||
| 2022 | Gimcheon Sangmu (draft) | 37 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 40 | 3 | |||
| 2023 | K League 2 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 1 | |||
| 2024 | Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors | K League 1 | 34 | 4 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 34 | 4 | ||
| Total | South Korea | 240 | 29 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 274 | 37 | |
| Career total | 240 | 29 | 19 | 6 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 274 | 37 | ||
5. Playing Style
Lee Yeong-jae primarily plays as a midfielder, known for his exceptional control and precision with his left foot. This attribute has earned him the nickname "left-footed wizard" from his current club, Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. His preferred foot is his left, and he wears jersey number 28. He stands at 69 in (174 cm) and weighs 132 lb (60 kg). These physical attributes, combined with his technical skills, allow him to effectively manage the midfield, distribute passes, and contribute to both defensive and offensive plays.
6. Honours
Lee Yeong-jae has accumulated several notable honours throughout his club and international career.
6.1. Club
;Ulsan Hyundai
- KFA Cup: 2017
6.2. International
;South Korea U-23
- King's Cup: 2015
;South Korea
- EAFF E-1 Football Championship: 2019
- EAFF E-1 Football Championship: Runner-up 2022