Jeong Yeon-wook claims South Korean team leadership causes discord

Parliamentary Inquiries and Squad Friction Expose Deep Rifts in South Korean Football

“It is said that recently, within the national team squad, players have been calling him not by his name but as ‘No 7’ or ‘that person’. Do you know who that is?” Politician Jeong Yeon-wook posed that question during an October 21 parliamentary committee meeting, pushing ongoing internal turmoil straight into the national spotlight.

When acting Korea Football Association (KFA) president Lee Yong-soo replied by asking if he referred to Son Heung-min, Jeong confirmed the dynamic, stating the national team leadership is causing discord and has broken down overall. Lee declined to comment on the matter. The revelation compounds a summer that included a group-stage exit at the World Cup, a media boycott following reporter mockery of Son’s lack of military service, and subsequent departures from coach Hong Myung-bo and KFA president Chung Mong-gyu before police raided KFA offices.

The Class of 1996 and Senior Leadership Frustrations

Internal friction within the Taeguk Warriors has escalated far beyond historical seniority divides. While Guus Hiddink sought to bridge generational gaps in 2001 by forcing players to sit together during meals, current tensions involve core veteran figures. Bayern Munich’s Kim Min-jae, FC Porto’s Hwang In-beom, and Schalke 04’s Hwang Hee-chan—collectively known as the class of 1996—grew unhappy with team leadership following the World Cup and sought a fresh start with a new captain and new head coach.

Following a 0-0 draw with Venezuela on 2 October, Hwang In-beom admitted physical and mental exhaustion after about nine years with the national team, noting that many things need to change, in football and in many other areas, but it doesn’t seem to be happening. Meanwhile, Kim Min-jae voiced frustration over some in the team not pulling their weight, expressing sympathy for the defenders. Reports indicated that the three players were prepared to quit the national team before a KFA official persuaded them to stay.

Son Heung-min’s Role and the Upcoming Asian Cup Horizon

At 34, Son Heung-min navigates an increasingly complicated international landscape. Following a decade in the Premier League that concluded with him lifting the Europa League trophy as Tottenham Hotspur captain, his move to Los Angeles FC was intended to prepare him for the 2026 World Cup. Yet his on-field deployment and starting status face mounting scrutiny. While he netted his 59th international goal via a free-kick against Uzbekistan on 6 October, questions persist over whether he should start at all.

Roster rifts, police raids and Son’s uncertain future leave South Korea at a crossroads — Photo: thedailybreakingnews.com

With interim Robert Moreno appointed in September until the end of November and the KFA operating without a president at the moment, South Korean soccer sits in a holding pattern. The Asian Cup—a tournament the Taeguk Warriors have not won since 1960—is just weeks away, carrying potential delays until 2028 due to Houthi attacks on Saudi Arabia.

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