South Korea football team bans media after criticism of captain Son Heung-min

Tensions are high within the South Korean national football team as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifier against Mexico in Guadalajara. The team has imposed a media ban following critical comments made about their star captain, Son Heung-min, during a live broadcast.

The controversy erupted during the team's first training session in Mexico when journalists were overheard criticizing Son. The comments alluded to his exemption from full military service, a requirement for all South Korean men, which he secured after helping the team win the gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games. This exemption is a sensitive issue in South Korea.

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He runs as if he is in military service. And he didn't even complete military service.

Son's teammates expressed solidarity with their captain, leading to the team's decision to withdraw from pre-training press conferences. Furthermore, the coaching staff canceled previously scheduled one-on-one interviews with various media outlets, escalating the friction with the Korean press.

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inappropriate comments that caused great shock and disappointment in the team

The team demanded an apology from the responsible journalists and warned that future interviews would not be scheduled without rectification. The Korean Football Association released a statement acknowledging "inappropriate comments" that caused "great shock and disappointment" and urged journalists to act with "greater consideration and a responsible attitude towards the national team and the players." The statement was later removed from the federation's social media, and Son reportedly met with the journalists, who offered their apologies.

Despite the media blackout, the team is scheduled to participate in official FIFA activities, with coach Hong Myung-bo and a player expected to face international media on Wednesday.

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greater consideration and a responsible attitude towards the national team and the players.