KFA Condemns Journalists for Remarks on Heung-min Son’s Military Service

The Korea Football Association has moved swiftly to condemn a group of journalists after a leaked conversation appeared to mock national captain Heung-min Son’s military service.

The incident, exposed by Football Asian, revealed audio of media members on-site suggesting Son “didn’t even properly serve in the military” – a jibe aimed at one of the most sensitive subjects in South Korean public life.

Son, like every high-profile athlete in the country, has lived his career under the shadow of mandatory national service. He earned an exemption from the full 21‑month posting by helping South Korea win gold at the 2018 Asian Games, a triumph that allowed him to complete a shortened, three‑month basic training instead. It was a landmark moment at the time, celebrated across the nation.

Those off‑hand remarks have now exploded into a full-blown issue.

KFA pushes back

In a strongly worded statement, the Korea Football Association expressed “regret” over what it called “inappropriate remarks” made by “some media officials” during national team training at the Guadalajara base camp, where South Korea are preparing for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America.

The KFA underlined the weight of the shirt Son and his teammates are wearing.

“With a sense of responsibility to represent South Korea on the global stage of the World Cup, the Taegeuk Warriors are doing their best to repay the support and expectations of the people,” the statement read.

The association said the leaked conversation had caused “great shock and disappointment” within the squad.

The message was clear: coverage is welcome, disrespect is not.

The KFA stressed that it “respects the reporting activities and the role of the media,” but drew a firm line on conduct around the team. On‑site work, it said, must be rooted in “mutual respect and trust,” with “respect for and protection of the players” taking precedence.

That is as close as the governing body comes to a public rebuke of its own media ecosystem.

Call for unity around Son and the squad

The association has now urged outlets and individual reporters to show “greater consideration and a responsible attitude” toward the national team to prevent a repeat of this episode. The tone was advisory rather than punitive, but the frustration was unmistakable.

Son’s status in South Korea goes well beyond his role as Tottenham’s star forward. He is captain, figurehead and, for many, the face of the country abroad. Any slight, especially around military service, cuts deep in a nation where conscription is both compulsory and emotionally charged.

The KFA ended its statement with a broader appeal, asking the media and the wider football community to “unite in support” so that the national team can deliver its best on the World Cup stage. It pledged to “prioritise the protection of the players” and work to foster what it called a healthier media environment.

The message from the federation is unmistakable: with a World Cup looming and their captain under scrutiny, South Korea want the noise turned down and the focus back where they believe it belongs – on the pitch, and on the team carrying a country’s expectations into 2026.