Following South Korea’s match against Uzbekistan on October 6th, three key members of the national team born in 1996—Kim Min Jae of FC Bayern Munich, Hwang In Beom of FC Porto, and Hwang Hee Chan of FC Schalke 04—met with Korea Football Association officials to discuss their concerns.
The meeting continued well past midnight in the locker room at Yongin Mireu Stadium, following a report by the JoongAng Ilbo the previous day that the three players had hinted at possibly stepping away from the national team. On match day, some players were heard saying that it could be the final international match for the three 1996-born players.
Hwang In Beom attempted to distance himself from the speculation, saying in the mixed zone, “It’s a decision the coach will make.” However, he added, “I am always prepared to step down.” He had also said on October 2nd, “It’s my ninth year with the national team, and not much has changed in various aspects.” His nine years with the team overlap with Son Heung Min‘s tenure as captain.
Kim Min Jae also made a cryptic remark, saying, “I feel sorry for the defenders.” After the match, the three players hugged each other on the field and took a photo together.
Former Korea Football Association technical committee chairman Hyun Young Min reportedly spent the night speaking with the players, and the immediate situation was brought under control as the three took a step back. However, questions remain about whether the underlying tensions have been resolved.
There is growing talk in Korean soccer that tensions between the senior players, including 1992-born Son Heung Min and Lee Jae Sung of FSV Mainz 05, and the 1996-born players have reached a breaking point. Some soccer figures believe internal conflicts within the team may be one reason South Korea has struggled in major international tournaments, including the North American World Cup, despite having a talented squad.
There have been several controversies involving the national team during Son’s time as captain. During the 2024 Asian Cup, Son was involved in a physical altercation with Lee Kang In, who is eight years younger, although the two later reconciled.
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However, a Sports Chosun report published today offered a different account of what happened. While Lee Kang In was initially portrayed as having disrupted the team’s atmosphere, the report said that he was not the one who initiated the physical altercation. Some soccer insiders expressed sympathy for Lee Kang In, saying, “Looking at the internal situation, Lee Kang In seems to have more grounds for complaint.”
During the North American World Cup qualifiers, some reporters were reportedly denied interviews for speaking negatively about Son Heung Min. However, most of the players were reportedly against continuing this practice throughout the tournament.
Head coach Robert Moreno was also aware of the tensions within the locker room but still kept Son as captain. As an interim coach, he may have been reluctant to take the risk of overhauling the team. Son has not caused any major problems off the field and scored a team-high three goals during the recent four-match international series. He was also one of the more active forwards on the team.
The 1996-born players, however, are not beyond criticism. JoongAng Ilbo noted that representing the national team carries significant responsibility and that retirement should not be used as leverage in internal disputes.
JoongAng Ilbo also pointed to examples from other national teams, where internal conflicts generally have three possible outcomes: disciplinary action followed by a major restructuring, reconciliation led by senior players, or unresolved tensions that eventually lead someone to leave the national team. Teams that put their differences behind them have generally been able to move forward, while those that allow conflicts to linger risk losing both players and results.
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