# Lee Jae-sung and Hwang Hee-chan Meet in Bundesliga After National Team Retirement Reports

- URL: https://hallyu-brief.vercel.app/en/news/lee-jae-sung-hwang-hee-chan-bundesliga-clash-8687e9
- Published: 2026-10-17T16:56:31.712Z
- Publisher: Hallyu Brief

> Mainz beat Schalke 1-0 in a Bundesliga match where Korean internationals Lee Jae-sung and Hwang Hee-chan faced each other for the first time since reports of national team retirements.

## Key points

1. Tietz scored the only goal for Mainz in the 24th minute of the first half.
2. Mainz rose to fifth in the table with 10 points, while Schalke fell to 14th.
3. Kim Min-jae, Hwan In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan were reported to be considering retiring from the national team.

## What happened in the match?

Lee Jae-sung started for Mainz and Hwang Hee-chan came off the bench for Schalke in the Bundesliga's sixth round on October 17. The two Korean players were on the pitch together for about 16 minutes. Mainz won 1-0 at Veltins-Arena, with Tietz scoring in the 24th minute of the first half after a low cross from Kacar.

| Team | Record | Points | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mainz | 3W 1D 2L | 10 | 5th |
| Schalke | 1W 2D 3L | 5 | 14th |

## How did the Korean players perform?

Lee Jae-sung was substituted in the 31st minute of the second half. According to the report, he had two shots and one key pass. Hwang Hee-chan, who entered in the 15th minute of the second half, recorded one shot.

## Why were they in the news before the match?

After the national team's match against Uzbekistan on the 6th, several players from the so-called 96-line generation were reported to be considering retiring from the national team. Kim Min-jae, Hwan In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan were named in the reports. Hwan In-beom said he had been thinking each match might be his last. Hwang Hee-chan declined to comment on the reports.

## For international fans

Lee Jae-sung and Hwang Hee-chan are among the most recognized Korean players in European football. Their meeting in the Bundesliga drew attention from Korean media because it came shortly after the retirement reports. Match details and standings are reported by the Bundesliga's official channels.

## FAQ

### Who scored the goal in Mainz vs Schalke?

Tietz scored the only goal in the 24th minute of the first half, finishing a low cross from teammate Kacar. Mainz won 1-0.

### Did Lee Jae-sung and Hwang Hee-chan play against each other?

Yes. Both were on the pitch together for about 16 minutes after Hwang Hee-chan came on in the 15th minute of the second half.

### Are Korean players retiring from the national team?

Reports said Kim Min-jae, Hwan In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan signaled possible retirement after the Uzbekistan match. Hwang Hee-chan has not confirmed this.

## Sources

- [My Daily](https://www.mydaily.co.kr/page/view/2026101800373651193)

_Written and translated with AI from official announcements and Korean media reports. If something is wrong, please let us know._