South Korea’s soccer team was embroiled in controversy during the World Cup. South Korean men’s soccer team members boycotted media coverage after South Korean reporters mocked the South Korean team captain Sun Hing-woon for not performing his military service.
According to reports by the Daily Telegraph of Britain, Reuters and other media, on June 7, during the public training of the South Korean team before the World Cup in Guadalajara, Mexico, south Korean television station JTBC (the World Cup broadcast side) captured the scene of the scene at the same time a number of accompanying reporters in private conversations. On-the-spot video shows a South Korean reporter making fun of Sun’s running posture during a courtside dialogue, saying that he has never really done his military service. The video caused a huge controversy when it was leaked.
Members of the South Korean soccer team, including Sun, take part in a training session in Guadalajara, Mexico, on June 7,2010.
Korea Football Association issued an official statement on the 15th, some media personnel in the team training for the World Cup during the improper remarks expressed deep regret.
“The team is deeply shocked and disappointed by the leaking of inappropriate dialogue between some media staff members at the training ground,” the statement said. The Korean Football Association expressed respect for the media’s reporting activities, at the same time stressed that“Live coverage must be based on mutual respect and mutual trust, respect and protection of players should be put in the first place”, “In this regard, the Korea Football Association calls on media organizations and journalists to show more consideration for the national team and its players and to maintain a responsible attitude to prevent similar incidents from happening again.”
South Korea got off to a flying start by beating the Czech Republic 2-1 in the first round of the World Cup group stage. The footage was leaked soon after it was filmed and Sun, the team’s captain, refused all media interviews after the match. Media events involving other players were subsequently cancelled.
Sun, 33, captained South Korea to a gold medal at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta, qualifying him without the standard 21-month military service. Sun completed three weeks of basic military training in South Korea in 2020, including subjects such as tear gas, live firing and 30-kilometer hikes, the report said.
South Korea will play host Mexico again in Guadalajara on June 19 Puebla time.