'Son of a Loach Soup Restaurant' Oh Hyun-kyu's Extraordinary Filial Piety: "You don't have to open the shop; I need to do well"

*This content was translated by AI.

Oh Hyun-kyu (25, Beşiktaş JK) was one of the most anticipated players heading into the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. He delivered a remarkable performance with 10 goals and 3 assists in the first half of the 2025-2026 season with KRC Genk (Belgium), and 8 goals and 2 assists in the second half with Beşiktaş (Turkey), totaling 18 goals and 5 assists in a single season, propelling him toward the World Cup with the steepest upward trajectory. Moreover, he became a topic of discussion for his story of moving from an unnumbered reserve member during the 2022 Qatar World Cup to proudly wearing the number 18 jersey for this tournament.

Adding to the attention, it was late revealed through online communities that Oh Hyun-kyu's family, who operate a loach soup restaurant in Namyangju, Gyeonggi Province, had decided to take a "long break" to support their son Oh Hyun-kyu, placing him once again at the center of the spotlight. In a public notice, his family wrote, "Our son (Oh Hyun-kyu) will be participating in this World Cup as a national team player," and "As a family, we wish to be present at the venue to cheer for him and offer our support."

Amidst this, Oh Hyun-kyu became a "hero" on the 12th (Korea time) at the Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, during the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North America. Oh Hyun-kyu entered the match in the 24th minute of the second half, replacing Son Heung-min (LAFC), as the score was tied 1-1, finally stepping onto the World Cup stage he had long dreamed of. Immediately after coming on, he tirelessly ran across the field. His characteristic diligent pressing in the front line and high work rate troubled the opposing defense. The same was true for his ball retention ability as a lone striker.

That was not all. In the 35th minute of the second half, Oh Hyun-kyu finally shook the back of the net. He surged into the penalty area from a cross delivered by Hwang In-beom (Feyenoord) from the right flank and finished the play. Even while being obstructed by an opposing defender, he momentarily gained the upper hand in a battle for position before connecting with a shot. It was the moment that capped his World Cup debut with a debut goal, the match-winning goal that led South Korea to a 2-1 comeback victory.

The fans were even more moved by the fact that he scored the go-ahead goal despite not being at 100% condition. Immediately after the match, Oh Hyun-kyu revealed in a broadcast interview, "My body felt terrible before the game. My fever rose to 38 degrees, and I wondered if I could even play." Nevertheless, Oh Hyun-kyu was given the mission of a "super joker" to break the tight balance, and he fulfilled that mission with the result of a comeback-winning goal. Oh Hyun-kyu said, "I am truly happy, delighted, and beyond grateful to have scored as I dreamed four years ago."

His family, including his parents who traveled all the way to Mexico to support him, was not forgotten. Oh Hyun-kyu said, "My family took a break from their shop for about a month to come here and cheer for me, and I am happy to show them my goal directly," bringing up the story that recently became a topic of discussion. He continued, "After returning to Korea in about a month, I want to do even better in the remaining matches so that my parents don't have to reopen the shop, and I want to take care of them comfortably. I think I need to do even better," revealing his filial piety. Oh Hyun-kyu is preparing to play in the second group stage match against Mexico, which will be held at the same venue at 10 a.m. on the 19th.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.