[Official Statement] Son Heung-min, Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom and three others issue joint statement amid '92·96LINE conflict rumors'... "It is completely untrue" that they demanded concessions in exchange for retirement

*This content was translated by AI.View Original

Five veterans, including Son Heung-min (LAFC), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Kim Min-jae (Bayern Munich), Hwang In-beom (FC Porto), and Hwang Hee-chan (Schalke 04), spoke out together regarding the "92·96LINE conflict rumors" surrounding the South Korean national football team.

These five players, led by national team captain Son Heung-min, released a joint statement titled "A Message to Fans Who Love Korean Football" through the Korea Football Association on the 12th.

The reason behind the five players issuing a joint statement lies in the conflict rumors that emerged after the 2026 North-Central America World Cup. Stories circulated that Son Heung-min and Lee Jae-sung, born in 1992, clashed with Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan, born in 1996, over the management of the national team. The controversy intensified particularly after the match against Uzbekistan last October, when the possibility of Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan retiring from the national team was even mentioned.

The five players, who had not individually disclosed their positions until now, gathered in Doha, Qatar, ahead of the two-match away A-international series in the Middle East in November. After sharing their thoughts with one another during this call-up, they clarified their stance on the conflict rumors through a joint statement.

The players first apologized, stating, "We are sorry for causing concern to the public and football fans due to various recent reports related to the national team."

They added, "By directly listening to and explaining parts that we had not been able to discuss sufficiently until now, we were able to better understand each other's positions."

Although it was immediately after a long-haul flight, the conversation was not short. The players said they candidly shared their feelings about the national team's preparation process and management without holding back. They explained, "The regret and disappointment of having let down the public at the recent World Cup still remain with all of us, and what needs to change in order not to repeat the same mistakes was the starting point of our deliberations."

The players conveyed that through this conversation, they reconfirmed that their hearts were as one. They stated that Korean football, which has been temporarily stagnant, must develop further and that they must repay fans' support with performance and results worthy of its history and status. They emphasized, "Naturally, that sentiment was the same before, and it remains unchanged now."

They also denied interpretations that discussions regarding national team management stemmed from personal conflicts with specific players or interests surrounding particular issues. The players stated they voiced their opinions based on a shared sense of problem awareness that the national team needs to improve, adding, "It is completely untrue that we tried to push through specific demands under the condition of retirement."

They also explained why they had not responded individually to related reports until now. Although much was reported contrary to the facts, they judged that since it was an issue concerning the national team, it was appropriate to first have sufficient dialogue and resolve it internally. There were also concerns that stating their positions separately, in a situation where it was difficult for them to meet directly while playing for their respective clubs, could lead to further misunderstandings.

The players conveyed, "Above all, we did not want the discussion, which began with the desire for the national team to improve, to expand into unverified rumors and appear as a conflict among players, thereby obscuring its original intent."

They also conveyed their intention to leave unnecessary controversy behind and focus on the national team they will build together from now on. The five players stated, "We have played together for Korean football for a long time, and we are teammates who will continue to move toward the same goal in the future." They pledged to work together to set a good example for the juniors who will write the next page of Korean football, while respecting and trusting each other's roles and responsibilities.

They said they would use the remaining time until the next Asian Cup as an opportunity to prepare more thoroughly for the tournament. They are determined to communicate more closely with the association so that the regrets and disappointments from the previous tournament are not repeated.

The players conveyed, "We well understand that what the public expects is not our explanations, but sincerity and good performance shown on the field." They further promised to do their best with one heart in this friendly match as well, repaying fans' encouragement and support with performance and attitude worthy of Korean football's history and status.

The Football Association explained that it released the original text of the statement to convey the players' voices as they are. The association stated, "We feel a deep sense of responsibility regarding this situation and will make efforts to communicate more actively with the players and provide necessary support so that such a situation does not recur."

The national team, led by interim head coach Roberto Moreno, will face Saudi Arabia on the 13th and Qatar on the 17th. This is the final A-international two-match series of the year.

A Message to Fans Who Love Korean Football

First of all, we are sorry for causing concern to the public and football fans due to various recent reports related to the national team.

During this call-up, we gathered together and candidly shared our thoughts regarding the national team. By directly listening to and explaining parts that we had not been able to discuss sufficiently until now, we were able to better understand each other's positions.

Above all, we reconfirmed that we are all of one mind. Korean football, which has been temporarily stagnant, must develop further than it is now, and we must repay the public's support with performance and results worthy of its history and status. Naturally, that sentiment was the same before, and it remains unchanged now.

Although it was immediately after a long-haul flight, in a conversation that lasted for no short time, we candidly shared the thoughts each of us had felt regarding the national team's preparation process and management without holding back. The regret and disappointment of having let down the public at the recent World Cup still remain with all of us, and what needs to change in order not to repeat the same mistakes was the starting point of our deliberations.

What we clearly want to state is that this did not stem from personal conflicts with specific players or interests regarding particular issues, but originated from a shared sense of problem awareness that the national team needs to improve. Furthermore, it is completely untrue that we tried to push through specific demands under the condition of retirement.

The reason we have not explained things one by one in response to related reports until now is that we believed issues concerning the national team should first be sufficiently discussed and resolved internally. Although much was reported contrary to the facts, we judged that stating our positions individually without sufficient dialogue, in a situation where it is difficult for us to meet directly while active with our respective clubs, could rather lead to further misunderstandings.

Above all, we did not want the discussion, which began with the desire for the national team to improve, to expand into unverified rumors and appear as a conflict among players, thereby obscuring its original intent.

Now is the time to leave unnecessary controversy behind and focus on the national team that we will build together in the future. We have played together for Korean football for a long time, and we are teammates who will continue to move toward the same goal in the future.

We will work together to set a good example for young players who will write the next page of Korean football, while respecting and trusting each other's roles and responsibilities.

We will use the time given until the next Asian Cup as an opportunity to prepare more thoroughly. We will communicate more closely with the association so that the disappointments and regrets from the previous tournament are not repeated.

We well understand that what the public expects is not our explanations, but sincerity and good performance shown on the field. In this friendly match as well, we will do our best with one heart, repaying your encouragement and support with performance and attitude worthy of Korean football's history and status.

Thank you.

Son Heung-min Lee Jae-sung Kim Min-jae Hwang In-beom Hwang Hee-chan

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

*This content was translated by AI.View Original