It nearly became an international embarrassment: 'Son Heung-min witness controversy' even shocked Japan... Lim O-gyeong (Rep.) retracts after facing criticism

*This content was translated by AI.

It was a controversy that could have easily turned into an international embarrassment. Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Im Oh-kyung, who had sought to summon Son Heung-min (LAFC) and Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton), key players for the South Korean national football team, as witnesses at a hearing by the Korea Football Association, retracted her application following intense criticism.

Lim (Rep.), a member of the National Assembly's Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee, announced on the 10th via his social media that he was withdrawing his application to summon Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as witnesses for the Korea Football Association hearing scheduled for the 22nd.

Lim (Rep.) explained, "I applied to summon active players Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as witnesses because I believed the football association hearing should not become a one-sided affair that only hears one side's story," adding, "This was not intended to burden the players but was a decision made to create a better hearing for the development of Korean football."

However, he also stated, "I retracted the witness application after comprehensively considering the party's opinion and the players' game schedules."

Previously, Lim (Rep.) had applied to summon Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as witnesses for the hearing with the intention of hearing perspectives on reforming the football association from active players who have experienced overseas stages, given that there are differences in viewpoint between coaches and players.

However, criticism poured out immediately after the announcement. It was pointed out that this decision failed to consider the situation of active players who need recovery after the World Cup, return to their clubs, and prepare for the new season.

Commentator Park Moon-seong raised his voice on his YouTube channel, saying, "You need to wake up. Who called them?" and added, "It is fundamentally impossible to adopt Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as witnesses. They likely were not even asked beforehand."

Criticism also came from the political sphere. People Power Party lawmaker Jin Jong-oh, a former Olympic gold medalist in shooting, pointed out, "The Democratic Party should not reduce football reform to a political show."

Overseas media also viewed this negatively. Japan's Nikkan Sports reported, "The Korea Football Association hearing is scheduled to verify whether there were any issues with the background of the coach selection and the operation of the football association," adding, "They have decided to summon 13 people as witnesses, including former coach Hong Myung-bo and association officials. They also plan to invite 10 people as witnesses, including national team striker Son Heung-min."

The media further noted, "It is unusual for an active player to be summoned to the National Assembly," adding, "There are views that it would be realistically difficult for Son Heung-min to attend the hearing as he has league matches ahead of his club."

Japanese Football Channel also expressed a similar opinion. The media reported, "With a National Assembly hearing surrounding the Korea Football Association scheduled to take place, unexpectedly, Son Heung-min and others were included on the witness list. Former coach Hong Myung-bo and others will be summoned as witnesses."

Football Channel explained, "Former President Park Ji-sung, former coach Hong Myung-bo, and others have been named on the witness list. In addition to former high-ranking association officials involved in the appointment of former coach Hong, current association executives and national team officials are also included."

It then added, "What is even more noteworthy is the witness list." The media pointed out, "Not only Park Ji-sung, Lee Young-pyo, and Park Ju-ho, who were appointed as members of the 'K-Football Innovation Committee' launched under the leadership of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism recently, but also players such as Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan, who participated in the North American World Cup, are included on the list."

However, it put a question mark over the actual possibility of attendance. Football Channel predicted, "Witnesses have no legal obligation to appear. Son Heung-min is known to have league schedules before and after the hearing, so his likelihood of appearing appears to be low."

In fact, Major League Soccer (MLS), where Son Heung-min plays, will resume its league schedule after the North American World Cup break. Son Heung-min's club LAFC played a friendly match on the 12th and will face LA Galaxy on the 18th. In particular, the LA Galaxy match is significant as it is a local rivalry game.

Hwang Hee-chan's club Wolverhampton also begins preparations for the new season. Wolverhampton, which is preparing for pre-season, will play friendly matches starting from the 23rd. Having suffered relegation last season, Wolverhampton needs to restore its reputation in the next season.

If Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan had been required to attend the hearing, it was highly likely that their club schedules and fitness management would have been disrupted. This is why criticism arose over whether it was appropriate to summon Hyeon Yeok (CEO) team players as National Assembly hearing witnesses at a time when they needed sufficient recovery after the World Cup and return to their teams.

Ultimately, under intense criticism and controversy, Lim (Rep.) retracted his application to summon Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan as witnesses just one day later.

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*This content was translated by AI.