Former national team star Lee Chun-soo's daughter aces AP calculus and economics with perfect scores

A screenshot of Joo-eun's AP exam scores shared by Lee Chun-soo on social media [Lee Chun-soo SNS]

Lee Chun-soo (45), a former South Korean national team footballer, shared the academic achievements of his eldest daughter, Joo-eun, 13.

On Monday, Lee posted on his social media a screenshot of Joo-eun's AP exam scores along with a message addressed to her. "Joo-eun, thank you and I love you. Congratulations," he wrote. "Last year I was so happy when you got a 5 on AP Psychology, and this year you got a 5 on AP Calculus and a 5 on AP Economics — I'm both amazed and so proud."

Lee added that he had occasionally wondered whether he was being fooled by his daughter's easygoing side. "Sometimes, seeing how Joo-eun keeps up with trends and has so many interests, I thought, 'Am I being played?' But as of today, I officially recognize my daughter Joo-eun as the best!" He also pledged to keep up his own efforts. "Dad will keep working hard for Korean football and youth football. Keep going, my daughter — Dad is cheering you on."

His wife, broadcaster Shim Ha-eun, also celebrated the results. "Please congratulate her. The outcome of studying hard every day, consistently — a perfect score of 5 on both AP Calculus and AP Economics for 2026. And above all, I am deeply grateful to all the teachers who guided her with such sincerity," she said. "No matter the circumstances, stay grounded, unshaken and bold! I'm cheering on my daughter Joo-eun as she keeps chasing her dreams."

Joo-eun serves as a special English interpreter at a football match preview show in May, conducting and interpreting an interview with Jeju SK FC head coach Sergio Costa. [YouTube channel 'Richunsu Lee Chun-soo']

Joo-eun attends ICS, an international school with annual tuition of about 40 million won ($26,100). Last year she was named a top student for her outstanding academic performance. She has also been accepted into the Center for Talented Youth (CTY), Johns Hopkins University's gifted education program and one of the most prominent of its kind in the United States. The CTY is open only to students who score in the top 10 percent on qualifying assessments.

In May, Joo-eun drew attention when she appeared as a special English interpreter on a football match preview show, conducting and interpreting a live interview with Jeju SK FC head coach Sergio Costa entirely in English.

Lee married Shim Ha-eun in 2012. The couple's daughter Joo-eun was born in 2013, and twins Tae-gang and Ju-yul followed in 2020.

paq@heraldcorp.com