"The comments caused great shock and disappointment within the squad."
— South Korean Football Association
Media Dispute Disrupts South Korea's World Cup Preparations
Preparations for South Korea's World Cup match against Mexico on Thursday have been affected by a dispute between the national team and South Korean media. The fallout follows controversial comments made about captain Son Heung-min.
Key Details- During an open training session on June 7, unidentified media personnel mocked Son Heung-min over his military record. The footage was captured by broadcaster JTBC and later leaked.
- The comments prompted a strong reaction from players, who reportedly stopped speaking to South Korean media outside official World Cup commitments. Scheduled interviews were canceled.
- A media officer reportedly resigned on Tuesday, though the national team has not confirmed this.
- Access for media was cut after the incident. A pre-match news conference is scheduled for Wednesday.
The South Korean soccer association said it regretted "the inappropriate remarks made by some media personnel" and that the comments caused "great shock and disappointment" within the squad.
The federation stated it "will continue to prioritize the protection of the squad and strive to create a healthy media environment."
Background- Son earned an exemption from mandatory military service by winning gold at the 2018 Asian Games and later completed alternative duties.
- South Korea beat the Czech Republic 2-1 in its first match. Son missed chances; Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored.