Daejeon: With over 100 caps, veteran midfielder Lee Jae-sung remains grateful for the chance to play for South Korea. As the latest South Korean member of the FIFA Century Club, Lee expressed his appreciation for every opportunity to represent his country.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee, 33, reached his 100th cap on October 10 in a friendly match against Brazil and added his 101st cap four days later against Paraguay. He has been called up once more for upcoming matches against Bolivia on Friday and Ghana on Tuesday. To honor Lee's achievement, the Korea Football Association has organized a special ceremony to take place before Friday's kickoff at Daejeon World Cup Stadium.
At a prematch press conference in Daejeon, Lee stated, "I am really honored to be back with the national team for these matches. I don't take these occasions for granted. I am grateful for the fact that I am healthy enough to be able to answer the call of the country. It's always great to see my teammates here." He added that Daejeon holds special significance for him, as he made his national team debut there on March 27, 2015, in a friendly against Uzbekistan.
Reflecting on fan reception, Lee acknowledged the ups and downs experienced by the national team. A significant defeat to Brazil drew over 63,000 fans to Seoul World Cup Stadium, but the subsequent match against Paraguay saw a sharp drop in attendance, with only about 22,000 spectators. "I think it gave us an opportunity to look back on our performance," Lee remarked. "If we put on a good show and play responsibly, then it will give our fans a reason to come watch us play."
Known for his playmaking skills, Lee has scored 15 goals for South Korea. When asked if he plans to mark his milestone with a goal on Friday, Lee responded with a smile, emphasizing teamwork over personal achievement: "If you know me at all, I won't consciously try to score goals. But if I find myself in a good spot for the team, then I will try to score. If my teammate has a better opportunity, then I will try to set him up."