Controversy surrounding South Korea’s national soccer team has continued to grow after a lawmaker claimed some players refer to captain Son Heung-min as “No. 7” or “that person” rather than by name, suggesting tensions within the squad may run deeper than previously thought.
During a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee on Wednesday, Rep. Jung Yeon-wook asked Lee Yong-soo, the acting chief of the Korea Football Association, who attended as a witness, if he knew some teammates referred to Son by his shirt number or an indirect reference rather than his name.
When Jung asked whether resentment over Son’s captaincy had been building among some players, Lee declined to comment. He did not confirm whether the alleged references to Son were evidence of a broader rift.
Lee said he had been briefed only in broad terms of the discussions, but declined to elaborate, citing the team’s privacy.
Jung then played footage of interviews with defender Kim Min-jae and midfielder Hwang In-beom after the friendly against Venezuela earlier this month.
In the video, Kim criticized the attackers for not doing enough to help defend. At the same time, Hwang voiced frustration with the team’s situation, fueling speculation about a wider rift in the squad.
The representative pointed out that Hyun Young-min, head of the KFA’s national team committee, met with the three players after the match for talks that stretched past midnight.
The lawmaker accused the soccer association of allowing speculation to flourish by failing to address the concerns. Lee said he hoped the team would “grow more united” under interim coach Robert Moreno as it prepared for November’s internationals and the Asian Cup in January.
Rep. Jung also cited reports that Kim, Hwang and forward Hwang Hee-chan — all born in 1996 — had considered retiring from international soccer after the friendly match against Uzbekistan on Oct. 6. Local media reported that the three were unhappy with Son’s leadership and felt the team was being run around him.
Amid growing rumors, the KFA addressed the situation in an Instagram post on Oct. 13, saying that unverified claims were spreading online and personal attacks targeted several players.
The KFA said it respected fans’ right to criticize but warned that false rumors and personal attacks were causing players distress.
junheee@heraldcorp.com