South Korean soccer player Son Heung-min poses for a photo with actor Jung Ho-yeon and singer Park Jae-beom at a fan meeting to commemorate the release of the Adidas F50 at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, on July 6. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, July 7 (Korea Bizwire) – South Korean football star Son Heung-min, captain of the national team and a star forward for the English club Tottenham Hotspur, made headlines with his candid responses at a recent fan event in Seoul.
The 32-year-old athlete, speaking at the ‘Son is Coming’ event held at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo-gu on July 6, offered insights into his priorities and future plans.
When faced with the hypothetical choice between South Korea reaching the World Cup semi-finals or Tottenham winning a trophy, Son didn’t hesitate to choose club success. He explained, “In all sports, winners are remembered and remain in history.
While I’d love to reach the World Cup semi-finals, I always want to be a winner.” Son added that if the choice had been between a World Cup victory and a club trophy, he would have opted for World Cup glory.
This response highlights Son’s hunger for silverware, as he has yet to win a major trophy with his club teams. His only significant triumph to date remains the gold medal at the 2018 Jakarta-Palembang Asian Games.
During the event, which included a talk show with broadcaster Bae Sung-jae, singer Jay Park, and actress Jung Ho-yeon, Son also addressed a recent incident where his appearance at a local football field in Yongin caused a commotion requiring police intervention.
South Korean soccer player Son Heung-min holds a birthday gift from the event organizers during a fan meeting celebrating the launch of the Adidas F50 at Times Square in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul, on July 6, 2024. His birthday is on July 8. (Yonhap)
He apologized for any inconvenience caused, explaining that he was there to maintain his fitness during the off-season.
When asked if he considers himself a ‘world-class’ player, Son humbly responded, “True world-class players are beyond debate. The fact that there’s still debate about me suggests I’m not there yet. World-class players are universally acknowledged as the best without argument.”
Perhaps most surprisingly, Son revealed his post-retirement plans, stating, “I’m becoming more convinced that I won’t pursue a career related to football after retiring as a player. Therefore, I aim to extend my playing career as long as possible and not disappoint the fans.”
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
