Leaked recording at South Korean training camp sparks controversy over remarks directed at Son Heung-min

The incident occurred during an open training session in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 7, just a few days before South Korea’s opening match. A video posted on YouTube by the broadcasting network JTBC showed the players, including Son, warming up and jogging around the pitch.

However, viewers quickly noticed that several conversations from individuals standing near the camera had been recorded. These audio snippets were extracted and widely circulated across South Korean online forums.

In the recording, a man who was watching Son warm up asked: “Is it because he’s the captain that he runs like a platoon leader?”

The man continued his commentary: “He looks like he’s running in the army. Is it because he’s the captain?”

A woman nearby seemingly realized the conversation could be recorded and warned the man, saying, “Camera, camera.” However, the remarks continued.

Another male voice then began mocking the players’ military service records. Using vulgar language, the person claimed the players “have never served in the military.”

“These people know nothing about the military,” the remark continued.

The leaked audio immediately ignited outrage on social media. Fans argued that using military service to attack national team players was highly disrespectful, particularly as the squad are carrying the weight of representing the country at the World Cup.

Suspicions arose that the individuals making the comments were reporters assigned to cover the team. Fans pointed out that the filming area was strictly controlled and not accessible to ordinary spectators.

Facing a massive wave of criticism, JTBC made the original video private and later uploaded a revised version with the controversial audio muted.

In the attached public statement, the broadcaster affirmed that the remarks in the recording were not from its reporters. The network explained that the high-quality microphones used on their cameras captured ambient sounds from the crowd. Because it was an open training session with many attendees, JTBC claimed the voices belonged to unidentified individuals.

The network further stated that their production crew was focused on filming Son and his teammates and did not notice the background conversation at the time. They only discovered the content after reading viewer feedback, prompting them to edit the footage.

The South Korean public was not convinced by the explanation. Many online users continue to demand a thorough investigation to identify the individuals responsible. Some comments noted that if the speakers were indeed reporters, their behavior must be reprehended as it goes against the spirit of supporting the national team.

Son has been mentioned frequently in connection with military service. In 2018, he led the South Korea Olympic team to the gold medal at the Asian Games, earning an official exemption from the country’s mandatory military service.

The forward still completed a mandatory three-week basic military training course at a marine unit on Jeju Island in 2020. He has also fulfilled his alternative service requirements, including time spent in his professional field and hundreds of hours of community service.

Son has not publicly commented on the incident. The national team captain appears focused on preparing for the World Cup campaign alongside head coach Hong Myung-bo.

South Korea national team are currently stationed in Guadalajara, Mexico. They will face the Czech Republic in their Group A opening match at 9 a.m. on June 12, Hanoi time. The team initially left South Korea in mid-May, held a training camp in the U.S. before arriving in Mexico for their final preparations.