Early Life
Jang Kun Lee (also written Lee Jang-kun) is a South Korean kabaddi raider. He has played in the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL) since the first season in 2014. In September 2026 he captained South Korea at the Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, Japan. Jang Kun Lee was born on 6 November 1992 in Busan, South Korea. As a boy he wanted to be a professional footballer, but money problems in his family ended that plan. He was introduced to kabaddi at Dong-eui University in Busan and went on to join the South Korean national team.
Indian fans call him the "Korean King". He played six seasons for Bengal Warriors, then moved to Patna Pirates for Season 7 in 2019. After a four-year break he returned with Patna Pirates in PKL 11 (2024), and Bengal Warriorz bought him back for PKL 12 in 2025.
Jang Kun Lee International Career:
Lee was drawn to kabaddi because its training felt close to martial arts. He soon became one of the main players in the Korean national team.
He was part of the Korean team that won bronze at the 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games in Incheon.
He was part of the South Korean team that won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games in Incheon. He also won bronze with Korea at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in Ahmedabad, where Korea beat hosts India in the opening match. Kabaddi is still not well known in Korea, and Lee has said he wants to help the sport grow there.
At the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, South Korea beat India in the group stage. Korea reached the final, lost to Iran and won the silver medal. Lee missed the 2023 Asian Games in Hangzhou during his break from the sport.
Jang Kun Lee at the 2026 Asian Games
Jang Kun Lee was named captain of South Korea's 12-member men's kabaddi squad for the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, held from 21 to 26 September 2026. Korea lost their opening Group A match to Bangladesh 39-35 and then lost 63-31 to India on 22 September. South Korea did not reach the semi-finals. India won the men's gold medal by beating Iran in the final.
Jang Kun Lee Pro kabaddi Career:
Jang Kun Lee spent the first six seasons with Bengal Warriors and scored 433 points for them, the most by an overseas player in the PKL at that time. In Season 5 the Warriors retained him for ₹80.30 lakh. They did not keep him for Season 7, and he joined the three-time champions Patna Pirates, where he raided alongside Pardeep Narwal. He scored 63 points in 16 matches for Patna in 2019.
Lee is known for his agility and his kicks during raids. He became the first overseas player to score 400 raid points in the PKL.
Lee skipped Season 8 and stayed away from the league during the Covid-19 years, saying he did not want to travel to India under the health restrictions. During the break he worked as a gym trainer and appeared on Korean television shows, including Netflix's "Physical 100".
In August 2024, Patna Pirates bought him for ₹17.50 lakh at the PKL 11 auction. He played only one match that season and scored one point. Patna Pirates reached the PKL 11 final and lost 32-23 to Haryana Steelers. At the PKL 12 auction in 2025, Bengal Warriorz bought him at his base price of ₹13 lakh. By the start of PKL 12 he had 472 raid points in his PKL career.
Jang Kun Lee Family and Personal Life
Jang Kun Lee grew up in Busan. His family's money went into his father's kidney treatment, which is why he could not chase a football career. He keeps his private life largely out of public view.
Personal Profile:
| Full Name | Jang Kun Lee (Lee Jang-kun) |
| Nickname | Korean King |
| Date of Birth | 6 November 1992 |
| Place of Birth | Busan, South Korea |
| Nationality | South Korea |
| Height | 6’0 ft |
| Position | Raider |
| Signature Move | kick |
| Latest PKL Team | Bengal Warriorz (PKL 12, 2025) |
| Former Club | Patna Pirates (2019, 2024) |
Teams Played for:
| Seasons | Teams |
| Season 1 | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 2 | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 3 | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 4 | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 5 | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 6 | Bengal Warriors |
| Season 7 | Patna Pirates |
| Season 11 (2024) | Patna Pirates |
| Season 12 (2025) | Bengal Warriorz |
Statistics (Seasons 1 to 7):
The table below covers his first seven PKL seasons. He added one point in one match in Season 11. By the start of PKL 12 his career total was 472 raid points.
| Total Matches Played | 106 |
| Total Earned Points | 496 |
| Most Points in a match | 14 |
| Not out percentage | 78.14% |
| Total raids | 1048 |
| Successful raids % | 44.95 |
| Super 10’s | 14 |
| Total raid points | 471 |
| Average raid per match | 4.41 |
| Total tackles | 102 |
| Number of super tackles | 4 |
| Total tackle points | 59 |
| Average tackles per match % | 0.19 % |
| Tackle strike rate % | 24.5 % |
Season Wise Stats:
Raiding:
| Season | Team | Matches Played | Total Raids | Successful Raids | Unsuccessful Raids | Raid Touch Points | Raid Bonus Points | Total Raid Points |
| PKL 1 | Bengal Warriors | 11 | 83 | 39 | 24 | 46 | 9 | 55 |
| PKL 2 | Bengal Warriors | 14 | 140 | 36 | 38 | 36 | 12 | 48 |
| PKL 3 | Bengal Warriors | 15 | 184 | 64 | 31 | 64 | 15 | 79 |
| PKL 4 | Bengal Warriors | 11 | 120 | 49 | 28 | 47 | 14 | 61 |
| PKL 5 | Bengal Warriors | 21 | 212 | 80 | 45 | 87 | 30 | 89 |
| PKL 6 | Bengal Warriors | 18 | 171 | 61 | 38 | 54 | 25 | 79 |
| PKL 7 | Patna Pirates | 16 | 138 | 47 | 25 | 43 | 17 | 60 |
Tackling:
| Season | Team | Matches Played | Total Tackles | Successful Tackles | Total Tackle Points |
| PKL 1 | Bengal Warriors | 11 | 14 | 2 | 2 |
| PKL2 | Bengal Warriors | 14 | 15 | 2 | 2 |
| PKL3 | Bengal Warriors | 15 | 20 | 9 | 11 |
| PKL 4 | Bengal Warriors | 11 | 17 | 4 | 4 |
| PKL 5 | Bengal Warriors | 21 | 12 | 0 | 0 |
| PKL6 | Bengal Warriors | 18 | 11 | 5 | 3 |
| PKL7 | Patna Pirates | 16 | 13 | 2 | 3 |
Jang Kun Lee Facts:
- Jang Kun Lee was born and brought up in Busan, South Korea.
- He plays for the Korean national kabaddi team as a raider and captained it at the 2026 Asian Games.
- He played the first six PKL seasons for Bengal Warriors.
- He was part of the bronze-winning team at the 2013 Asian Indoor and Martial Arts Games.
- He has won Asian Games bronze (2014) and silver (2018) with South Korea.
Jang Kun Lee Social Media:
Jang Kun Lee Instagram: jangkun_lee_kabaddi
Frequently asked questions
Who is Jang Kun Lee?
Jang Kun Lee is a South Korean kabaddi raider who has played in the Pro Kabaddi League since the first season in 2014. He captained South Korea at the 2026 Asian Games.
How old is Jang Kun Lee?
Jang Kun Lee was born on 6 November 1992.
Where is Jang Kun Lee from?
He was born in Busan, South Korea, and was introduced to kabaddi at Dong-eui University in Busan.
Which PKL teams has Jang Kun Lee played for?
He played for Bengal Warriors in Seasons 1 to 6, Patna Pirates in Season 7 and Season 11, and Bengal Warriorz in Season 12.
Which team bought Jang Kun Lee in the PKL 12 auction?
Bengal Warriorz bought him at his base price of ₹13 lakh at the PKL 12 auction in 2025.
What was Jang Kun Lee's PKL 11 price?
Patna Pirates bought him for ₹17.50 lakh at the PKL 11 auction in August 2024.
How many raid points has Jang Kun Lee scored in the PKL?
By the start of PKL 12 he had 472 raid points in his PKL career. He was the first overseas player to score 400 raid points in the league.
Did Jang Kun Lee play at the 2026 Asian Games?
Yes. He captained South Korea at the 2026 Asian Games in Aichi-Nagoya, where Korea lost to Bangladesh and India and did not reach the semi-finals.
What medals has Jang Kun Lee won with South Korea?
He won bronze at the 2014 Asian Games and silver at the 2018 Asian Games. He also won bronze at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup.
Why did Jang Kun Lee stop playing in the PKL?
He skipped Season 8 and stayed away during the Covid-19 years because he did not want to travel to India under the health restrictions. He returned in PKL 11 in 2024.
