South Korea shuts down rumors linking decision to bench Son Heung-min at World Cup to media boycott incident

Ahead of the tournament, a group of reporters mocked Son’s military service exemption during a training session. The conversation was captured on video by broadcaster JTBC, leading to significant backlash. Following the incident, South Korean players began refusing numerous media interviews, JoongAng Daily reported.

Representative Jin Jong-oh, a member of the South Korean National Assembly, claimed on July 1 that veteran players like Son and Lee Jae-sung wanted to maintain the boycott. On the other hand, other team members felt that an extended media blackout during a major tournament was inappropriate.

Jin alleged that this disagreement led to Son and Lee being dropped from the starting lineup for the crucial Group A match against South Africa. South Korea ultimately lost that game 0-1 and suffered an early group stage exit.

The KFA acknowledged holding a team meeting to discuss resuming media interviews. However, a KFA representative told Chosun that it’s inaccurate to say Son and Lee were dropped from the starting lineup because of this incident.

MBC commentator Seo Hyung-wook supported the KFA’s stance, affirming there is no evidence of an internal conflict. He noted that coach Hong Myung-bo did not have the authority to drop players simply for refusing interviews.

An unnamed South Korean player, who made his World Cup debut and was identified as ‘A’ by newspaper Kyunghyangalso pushed back against the rumors.

“It wasn’t internal conflict. It was just immense pressure,” the player said.

Player A revealed that the coaching staff informed the squad of the decision to bench Son and Lee during a meeting on the morning before the South Africa match. This unexpected development placed pressure on the starting lineup.

The extreme heat and humidity in Monterrey, Mexico, also gave the players fatigue. Furthermore, the unprecedented media boycott had left several players mentally exhausted. While the squad knew the leaked recording was a private conversation among a small group, the players naturally sided with their captain.

The KFA was also criticized by Kyunghyang for failing to handle the situation effectively, noting they feared intervention might lower the team’s morale. Coach Hong also reportedly persuaded the players to end the boycott, worrying it could disrupt team spirit.

South Korea national team coach Hong Myung-bo (C) returns to Incheon International Airport, South Korea on June 30, 2026, after resigning following the team’s early elimination from the World Cup. Photo by AP

The recording leaked on June 7, but it took nearly a week for KFA vice president Park Hang-seo to fully grasp the situation following a meeting with Son and Lee. Tensions only began to ease after the team’s 0-1 defeat to Mexico in their second Group A match.

Player A also addressed an incident where center-back Kim Min-jae shouted towards the bench after being substituted in the 65th minute against South Africa. While some viewed this as a sign of discord, player A described it as a “desperate cry” regarding tactics when he noticed that the team’s formation was too wide.

Despite entering the 2026 World Cup with high expectations, South Korea’s early exit deeply frustrated fans. South Korean President Lee Jae-myung expressed his disappointment and called for a thorough investigation into KFA’s operations.

Coach Hong resigned after the exit, and KFA vice president Park issued a public apology.