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"Don't hang your heads" - From Lee Kang-in to Son Heung-min, the national team players return home with heads bowed... V
🇰🇷 South Korea /Sports

"Don't hang your heads" - From Lee Kang-in to Son Heung-min, the national team players return home with heads bowed... Voices of support for the Taegeuk Warriors

From Chosun Ilbo · () Korean

Translated from Korean, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • South Korean national football team players, including Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, have returned home after the 2026 World Cup.
  • Despite criticism directed at coach Hong Myung-bo, there were voices of support for the national team players.
  • The players arrived in multiple groups, with Son and Kim Min-jae among the first to return.

South Korean football stars, including captain Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, have completed their return to South Korea following the conclusion of the 2026 World Cup. The players arrived back in the country in several groups, marking the end of their World Cup campaign.

While coach Hong Myung-bo faced criticism following the team's performance, there were also expressions of support for the national team players. The returnees included key figures like Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain and Kim Min-jae of Bayern Munich, alongside captain Son Heung-min, who plays for LA FC.

The first group of players, including Hong Myung-bo, Lee Kang-in, and Kim Min-jae, arrived on June 30. Subsequent arrivals on July 1 saw Son Heung-min and other members of the national team return, bringing an end to their participation in the tournament.

DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Chosun Ilbo in Korean. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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