Lee Young-min (Korean: 이영민; Hanja: 李榮敏; 1 December 1905 – 12 August 1954) was a South Korean versatile sportsman who played in football, baseball and athletics.

Early life

His birthplace wasn't precisely known, but it is being assumed that Chilgok or Yecheon.[7][9][10] When he became a student of Paichai High School, located in Keijō (Korean: Gyeongseong or Kyungsung; former name of Seoul), he played as an athlete of his school in football, baseball and athletics. He won a high school competition of the Gyeongin Ekiden Championship and a high school division of the All Joseon Football Tournament with his team.[9][11]

Playing career

Since 1927, his school Yonhi College participated in the senior division of All Joseon Football Tournament, and he won the 1927 and 1928 tournament.[12][13] In 1928, he won five titles at an All Joseon Athletics Games, and especially in the 400 m sprint, he set a new competition record.[9][14] In the same year, he also hit the Korean first official home run in a baseball match against Gyeongseong Medical College.[15]

In 1929, he became the only Korean in the baseball club of Chōsen Shokusan Bank by joining the club after his graduation,[16] and started to play in the Intercity baseball tournament (Japanese national competition) and the Chōsen Semi-professional Baseball League.[15] Since 1930, he also participated as a footballer of Gyeongseong in the Kyung-Pyong Football Match, and played football during the same period.

In 1933, he helped to found the Joseon Football Association, currently Korea Football Association.[9] In the same year, he participated in the Intercity Tournament with Zenkeijō, the selection of Japanese Baseball players who were living in Gyeongseong including Shokusan Bank players, and led his team to finish as runners-up.[16] In November 1934, he was selected for the Japanese Baseball All-Star Team,[16] and also played games against American All-Star Team who visited Japan. He took a picture with Babe Ruth at that time.[15] In 1935, he won the Japanese FA Cup, Emperor's Cup, with Kyungsung FC, taking on both roles player and manager.[9][15]

Managerial career

He became the first manager who managed South Korea national football team at an international competition by participating in the 1948 Summer Olympics.[15] He accomplished South Korean first ever victory in an international football competition against Mexico in the first round of the tournament.[9]

Personal life and legacy

Lee led a promiscuous life and was unconcerned with his family. In August 1954, he was killed by his third son's friend.[7][15] The Lee Young-min Batting Award [ko] for high school baseball players was named for Lee.

Honours

Yonhi College

• All Joseon Football Tournament: 1927, 1928[12][13]

Yeonu Gurakbu

• All Joseon Football Tournament runner-up: 1929[17]

Gyerim FC

• All Joseon Football Tournament runner-up: 1932[18]

Kyungsung FC

• All Joseon Football Tournament runner-up: 1933[9]
• Emperor's Cup: 1935[9][15]
• Chōsen Shrine Games: 1935
• Meiji Shrine Games: 1935[19]

References

External links