South Korea's players have shut the door on the media. Following reports that journalists from their own country were caught on a hot mic mocking captain Son Heung-min's military service, the squad has boycotted voluntary media duties at the World Cup — and frankly, you can see why.
The Korea Football Association confirmed the incident, calling the remarks "inappropriate" and saying they caused "great shock and disappointment" to the team. That's diplomatic language for: the players are furious, and they've made it clear.
Why this cut so deep
Military service isn't a light subject in South Korea. Every able-bodied man must complete around 21 months — it's a legal obligation tied directly to the country's deterrent against North Korea. Son, at 33, earned his exemption the hard way: the 2018 Asian Games gold medal with the national team unlocked that right for him and his teammates. But he still completed a three-week basic training in 2020, during the COVID-19 Premier League shutdown — tear gas exposure, live-fire drills, 30-km hikes. That's not ceremonial. That's real.
For reporters covering the team to mock that, in a place where a mic was live, says everything about the judgment on display.
The KFA has asked media outlets for "greater consideration and a responsible attitude." The squad, meanwhile, has made their position clear without a press conference. The team's media officers didn't respond to requests for comment — which is itself a statement.
What this means on the pitch
South Korea still have to fulfil FIFA-mandated media commitments, so the full blackout won't hold. But the atmosphere around a squad is a real factor, and this kind of distraction — especially one that targets the captain — is the last thing a team needs heading into World Cup group-stage football.
Son leading a united dressing room is one thing. Son leading a dressing room that's been publicly disrespected by its own press is another. Any volatility around their camp makes South Korea's performances harder to predict, and harder to back with confidence.
The KFA says it will "prioritise the protection of the squad." Right now, protection from their own media seems to be the more pressing task.
