World Ranking leader +78kg Hyeonji Lee

Korean heavyweight Lee Hyeonji has rapidly emerged as one of the most exciting young athletes in the +78kg division and finished 2025 as the leader of the IJF World Ranking. Still only a teenager, the Korean judoka has already built an impressive record from cadet level to the senior circuit.

Lee first gained international recognition in the junior categories. She became Cadet World Champion in Zagreb in 2023 and also captured the Asian Cadet title in Tashkent the same year. Her progress continued with a bronze medal at the Junior World Championships in Odivelas and later the junior world title in 2024 in Dushanbe, confirming her status as one of the most promising heavyweights of her generation.

Her transition to senior competitions proved equally impressive. Lee collected bronze medals at the Grand Slams in Tbilisi and Dushanbe in 2024 and reached the podium at several major IJF World Tour events. In 2025 she made a significant breakthrough, winning the Grand Slam in Astana and the Grand Prix in Qingdao while also taking silver at the Paris Grand Slam.

The highlight of her season came at the World Championships in Budapest where she secured a bronze medal in the +78kg category.

These consistent results lifted Lee to the top of the world ranking by the end of 2025. Known for her powerful gripping and dynamic heavyweight attacks, she represents the next generation of Korean women’s judo and is already seen as a serious contender for future world and Olympic titles.

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