South Korea team boycotts local media after journalists mock Son

South Korea’s World Cup campaign began with a 2-1 win over Czechia, but the team is now dealing with an off-field dispute involving local journalists. According to reports in South Korea, journalists were caught mocking captain Son Heung-min, sparking anger inside the squad.

The incident reportedly took place during an open training session in Guadalajara on June 7. A recording that circulated on social media allegedly captured South Korean reporters ridiculing Son, and the comments quickly drew criticism in the country and reached the players themselves. Some of the remarks concerned the exemption Son received from full military service.

Son, 33, was granted those legal exemptions after leading South Korea to gold at the 2018 Asian Games, a result that also exempted his teammates from the country’s full military duty requirement. The reaction inside the team was strong, and reports say the players sharply reduced their interaction with South Korean media in the following days.

Some accounts also said the squad has been boycotting interviews with reporters from South Korea as a protest over the episode. Officials and fans are now hoping the controversy will not disrupt the team’s preparations. After beating Czechia in Group A, South Korea next faces Mexico in a match that could prove decisive in the race to advance.