34 Facts About Lee Dong-gook

Lee Dong-gook is a record scorer in the K League 1, and had brief spells in Europe with Werder Bremen and Middlesbrough.

Lee Dong-gook played for the South Korea national football team at two FIFA World Cups and three AFC Asian Cups.

In 1998, Lee joined a K League club Pohang Steelers and started his professional career instead of entering university.

Lee Dong-gook was named the Rookie of the Year after scoring eleven goals for Pohang in his first K League season.

Lee Dong-gook helped Pohang win the Asian Club Championship in that year.

Lee Dong-gook played only seven matches as a substitute during six months.

Lee Dong-gook scored six goals during seven league matches in early 2006 when his performance was at its height.

In 1998, Lee Dong-gook's father offered a bribe to an employee of the Military Manpower Administration in order to dodge Lee Dong-gook's military service.

Lee Dong-gook wasn't punished at all, and even got an opportunity to exempt from military service by participating in the 2002 Asian Games.

In January 2007, after being granted a work permit, Lee Dong-gook signed for Premier League club Middlesbrough on an 18-month contract.

Lee Dong-gook signed a contract with Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma in 2008, but his difficult time was continued.

Lee Dong-gook was transferred to Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors in the 2009 transfer window.

Lee Dong-gook was named the Most Valuable Player after spending a successful season.

Lee Dong-gook became the Most Valuable Player as well as the top assist provider.

Lee Dong-gook led Jeonbuk to the 2011 AFC Champions League Final after scoring nine goals until the semi-finals.

On 3 March 2012, Lee Dong-gook became the K League's all-time leading scorer with 117 goals when he got two goals in the 2012 season opener against Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma.

In 2013, Lee Dong-gook was involved in a bizarre incident in a K League match against Seongnam FC.

Lee Dong-gook won his third and fourth MVP award after adding K League titles in 2014 and 2015.

On 15 March 2016, Lee Dong-gook scored his 30th AFC Champions League goal against Becamex Binh Duong and became the AFC Champions League's all-time top scorer.

However, Lee Dong-gook ignored the corruption of his club, and didn't accept the result after losing the league title.

On 1 November 2020, Lee Dong-gook played virtually last game of his 23-year playing career, and got his retirement ceremony immediately after the game.

Lee Dong-gook scored a hat-trick against Indonesia, bringing South Korea's only victory in the group stage.

Lee Dong-gook scored a golden goal in extra time of the quarter-final match against Iran.

Lee Dong-gook scored a goal in the semi-finals against Saudi Arabia, but South Korea lost this time.

Lee Dong-gook became a top goalscorer with six goals after scoring the winning goal in the third place match against China.

In 2002, Lee Dong-gook was not chosen by Guus Hiddink to represent South Korea in 2002 FIFA World Cup.

Lee Dong-gook later admitted that he spent his days drinking and did not watch a single game that took place during the 2002 World Cup.

On 1 November 2007, Lee Dong-gook was banned from the national team for twelve months after it was revealed that he, along with team captain Lee Dong-gook Woon-jae, teammates Kim Sang-sik and Woo Sung-yong, went on a late night drinking spree with several female employees during the 2007 AFC Asian Cup, in which Korea received third place.

Unlike the other members who were involved in this incident, because Lee Dong-gook played for Middlesbrough in England, the KFA could not ban him from his club team matches.

Lee Dong-gook was selected as a reserve striker of the national team for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

Lee Dong-gook came on as a substitute in the round of 16 against Uruguay, and got a crucial chance made by Park Ji-sung.

Lee Dong-gook was denounced by South Korean fans, and was worried that his family would get hurt due to the criticisms about him.

Lee Dong-gook played in qualifiers for 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cup but was not listed on the final teams for the tournaments.

Lee Dong-gook married Lee Dong-gook Soo-jin, a runner up of Miss Korea 1997, in December 2005.