KFA Responds to Media Mockery of Son Heung-min
The Korea Football Association has moved quickly and firmly after a leaked conversation appeared to show journalists mocking national team captain Heung-min Son over his military service.
The governing body issued a strongly worded statement condemning the remarks, which surfaced from audio recorded at the South Korean training camp in Guadalajara, where the squad is preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in North America.
According to Football Asian, several journalists were caught on microphone belittling Son’s national service, suggesting he “didn’t even properly serve in the military.” In a country where conscription is both mandatory and deeply sensitive, that line cut straight to the bone.
Son received an exemption from the standard 21‑month military posting after helping South Korea win gold at the 2018 Asian Games, a triumph that granted him the right to complete a shortened three‑month basic training instead. It is a well‑established route under South Korean law, used by a number of elite athletes and artists. The comments, though, have ignited anger and forced the KFA to step in.
KFA draws a line
In its statement, titled as a “message of advice” on media conduct around the national team, the Korea Football Association made its stance clear.
It said it “expresses regret regarding the inappropriate remarks made by some media officials” during training at the Guadalajara base camp, stressing that the leaked exchanges had caused “great shock and disappointment” within the squad.
The language was pointed. The KFA reminded outlets that, while it “respects the reporting activities and the role of the media,” coverage at close quarters must be built on “mutual respect and trust,” with the “protection of the players” coming first.
The implication was unmistakable: access comes with responsibility. Cross the line, and the relationship frays.
The association urged media organisations and reporters to show “greater consideration and a responsible attitude” toward the national team and its players to prevent a repeat of the episode. It also appealed to “the media and members of the football community” to unite behind the Taegeuk Warriors so they can deliver their best on the World Cup stage.
The closing note was as much a warning as a pledge. The KFA insisted it will continue to prioritise player protection and push for a “healthy media environment.”
For Son, a global star and the face of South Korean football, the controversy arrives in the middle of another demanding international cycle. For the KFA, it raises a sharper question: where does fair scrutiny end and disrespect to the captain of the national side begin?
