Lee’s first match in charge will be a friendly against Australia on June 6 at Yongin Mireu Stadium, with a 28-man squad that includes Europe-based talents Bae Jun-ho from Stoke City and Hannover 96’s Lee Hyun-ju.

“Lee has strong conviction in his game model and demonstrated a lot of confidence in his ability to lead the U-22 team,” said Hyun Young-min, head of the KFA National Teams Committee. “We also valued his role in the 2018 Asian Games triumph and his achievement with Daejeon.”

A seasoned figure in Korean football, Lee earned 67 caps and played in the 1998 and 2002 FIFA World Cups. He famously scored a late winner against Japan in a FIFA World Cup Qualifier in 1997, a moment that cemented his status as a national hero.

Lee began coaching in 2010 with spells in China PR as well in Korea Republic. He was part of the coaching staff when Korea Republic won the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games and clinched the AFC U-23 Championship title in 2020.

Lee guided Daejeon Hana Citizen FC to promotion to K League 1 during his tenure as head coach from 2020 to 2024 and his long term targets are the 2026 Asian Games and 2028 Olympics.