Dong Geon Lee: Early Life, Domestic Career, PKL Achievements, Social Media and More
Dong Geon Lee is a professional South Korean kabaddi player who has made his mark in both international competitions and the Pro Kabaddi League (PKL). Born on July 1, 1996, in South Korea, Lee plays as a raider and has represented his country in various international tournaments. Standing at 6’1 feet tall, he has been an important player for South Korea’s national kabaddi team and has played for multiple teams in the PKL since 2017.
| Category | Details |
| Full Name | Dong Geon Lee |
| Date of Birth | July 1, 1996 |
| Age | 29 years old |
| Nationality | South Korean |
| Height | 6’1 feet (185 cm) |
| Position | Raider |
| PKL Debut | Season 5 (2017) with Tamil Thalaivas |
| Signature Move | Running Hand Touch |
| @donggeon__lee_kabaddi |
Early Life & Family
Dong Geon Lee was born on July 1, 1996, in South Korea. He first learned about kabaddi in 2015 during his university days when his fellow student Jang Kun Lee introduced him to the sport. According to Lee, he had never heard of kabaddi before that time, and it was Jang Kun Lee who insisted that he try his hand at the sport.
Dong Geon Lee was studying at the same university as Jang Kun Lee, who later became a star player for Bengal Warriors in the PKL. The introduction to kabaddi changed Lee’s life completely, as he quickly took to the sport and began training seriously. His athletic background and natural abilities helped him adapt to kabaddi quickly.
During his early days, Dong Geon Lee used to watch videos of Jang Kun Lee playing in the PKL to learn various skills and techniques. He has often mentioned that Jang Kun Lee has been his kabaddi teacher, helping him understand the game better.
Domestic Career
Before joining the Pro Kabaddi League, Dong Geon Lee represented South Korea in various domestic and international competitions. His early exposure to kabaddi came through university-level competitions in South Korea, where the sport was still growing.
Dong Geon Lee’s domestic career in South Korea helped him develop the basic skills needed for international competition. However, South Korea had a limited number of kabaddi players during his early days, with maybe around 20 players in the entire country. This limited pool meant that Lee had to work harder to improve his skills and learn from available resources.
His domestic performances caught the attention of national team selectors, leading to his inclusion in South Korea’s national kabaddi team for international tournaments. The experience gained in South Korean domestic competitions provided him with the foundation to compete at higher levels.
PKL Journey
Dong Geon Lee’s Pro Kabaddi League journey began in Season 5 (2017) when he joined Tamil Thalaivas. In his debut season, he played 17 matches and scored 29 total points, making his mark as a reliable raider for the Chennai-based franchise.
For Season 6 (2018), Dong Geon Lee moved to Gujarat Giants, where he played 11 matches and scored 31 points. During this season, he achieved one Super Raid and one Super 10, showing his ability to score big points in crucial moments. His performance with Gujarat Giants helped establish him as a consistent overseas player in the PKL.
In Season 7 (2019), Dong Geon Lee joined U Mumba, where he played only 6 matches and collected 20 total raid points. U Mumba picked him up for ₹25 lakhs based on his previous season’s performance. However, his playing time was limited during this season as he played behind the franchise’s main raiders.
Dong Geon Lee then moved to Bengaluru Bulls for Season 8 (2021) before returning to Gujarat Giants for Season 9 (2022). His total PKL statistics show 12 matches played with 39 total points earned and a raid strike rate of 57%. Throughout his PKL career, Lee has maintained a tackle strike rate of 25%.
According to Lee, he enjoys working with experienced coaches and is always keen to learn from their experience to improve his game. His approach has been to gain as much knowledge as possible from the PKL to take back to South Korea and help develop more kabaddi players there.
| Season | Team | Matches Played | Total Points | Raid Points | Tackle Points | Super Raids | Super 10s |
| Season 5 (2017) | Tamil Thalaivas | 17 | 29 | 29 | 0 | – | – |
| Season 6 (2018) | Gujarat Giants | 11 | 31 | 31 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Season 7 (2019) | U Mumba | 6 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Season 8 (2021) | Bengaluru Bulls | 9 | 10 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Season 9 (2022) | Gujarat Giants | 12 | 39 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 1 |
| Overall | – | 55 | 129 | 127 | 2 | 1 | 2 |
Achievements
Dong Geon Lee has achieved several notable accomplishments in his kabaddi career at both international and PKL levels. His major achievements include:
International Achievements:
- Bronze medal at the 2016 Asian Beach Games in Vietnam
- Bronze medal at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup in India
- Silver medal at the 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games
- Gold medal at the 2019 World Martial Arts Mastership in Korea
Notable International Performances:
- Part of the South Korean team that defeated India at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup, which was considered a major upset
- Member of the South Korean squad that won their first-ever silver medal at the 2018 Asian Games
Team Achievements:
- Part of South Korea national team that finished 3rd at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup
- Member of the squad that helped South Korea achieve their highest-ever ranking in international kabaddi
Lee has mentioned that beating India at the 2016 Kabaddi World Cup remains the most memorable moment of his kabaddi career. This victory was particularly significant as it marked South Korea’s emergence as a strong kabaddi nation on the international stage.
Social Media and More
Dong Geon Lee maintains an active presence on social media, particularly Instagram, where his handle is @donggeon__lee_kabaddi. His Instagram bio identifies him as “#카바디 대한민국 카바디 국가대표” (Korea National Kabaddi Representative). The bio also lists his major achievements, including the 2016 Asian Beach Games bronze medal, 2016 Kabaddi World Cup bronze medal, 2018 Jakarta Palembang Asian Games silver medal, and 2019 World Martial Arts Mastership gold medal.
Through his social media presence, Lee shares updates about his training, matches, and experiences in the Pro Kabaddi League. He has also used his platform to promote kabaddi in South Korea and inspire other young athletes to take up the sport.
Lee has expressed his hope that more South Korean players will join the PKL in the future, especially after major tournaments like the Asian Games. He believes that the exposure gained through PKL can help popularize kabaddi in South Korea, where it is still not as popular as in India.
Conclusion
Dong Geon Lee represents the growing international appeal of kabaddi and the Pro Kabaddi League. His journey from a university student who had never heard of kabaddi to becoming an international medallist shows his dedication and natural talent for the sport. Through his performances in the PKL and international competitions, Lee has helped put South Korean kabaddi on the global map.
His achievements at major tournaments, including the Asian Games silver medal and World Cup bronze, demonstrate his capability at the highest level of competition. As he continues his PKL career with Gujarat Giants, Lee remains focused on improving his game while also working to develop kabaddi in South Korea. At 29 years old, he still has several productive years ahead and continues to be an important player for both his PKL team and the South Korean national team.
