Son Heung-min Withdrawn as Witness from National Assembly Hearing After Public Backlash

South Korean football captain Son Heung-min will not be appearing at the National Assembly hearing concerning the Korean Football Association (KFA). His inclusion as a witness was initially approved by the Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee but was withdrawn just one day later following a public outcry.

The controversy stemmed from Son's inclusion as a reference witness without prior consultation, especially given his demanding schedule with his club, LAFC. The Major League Soccer (MLS) season, which includes Son's team, was set to resume on June 18, shortly before the hearing scheduled for June 22. Attending the hearing would have required Son to miss crucial team commitments, including a derby match against LA Galaxy and another league game.

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The hearing is becoming a joke. The hearing is completely overshadowed by Son Heung-min's issue.

Lawmaker Im Oh-kyung, who initially proposed Son's inclusion, cited a desire to hear from players with international experience about the KFA's reform direction. However, the lack of consultation and the timing of the request led to widespread criticism. Football commentator Park Moon-sung expressed frustration, stating the hearing risked being overshadowed by the Son Heung-min issue.

Following the backlash, Im withdrew the request, citing a comprehensive consideration of the party's opinion, the players' schedules, and their positions. While a reference witness is not legally obligated to attend, Son's non-attendance leaves unresolved questions surrounding alleged conflicts between him and former national team coach Hong Myung-bo. Some in the football community believe Son should still voice his perspective, perhaps through written statements or video conferencing, to address the controversies.

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We have comprehensively considered the party's opinion, the players' match schedules, and their positions in withdrawing the reference witness application.