Kim Jin-su confirms apology from Lee Kang-in over Asian Cup fracas

Kim Jin-su, right, and Lee Kang-in prepare for a free kick during Korea's match against Malaysia on Jan. 25 during the Asian Cup held in Qatar. [NEWS1]

Defender Kim Jin-su of Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors revealed that he has also received an apology from Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain regarding the recent Team Korea dispute at the Asian Cup.

Reports broke on Feb. 14 of an altercation between Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur and Lee the night before the Asian Cup semifinal match against Jordan after a disagreement during a team dinner at the Team Korea camp in Qatar, which caused Son to suffer a finger injury. The Korea Football Association (KFA) quickly confirmed the report.

The incident reportedly happened after some younger members of the team rushed to play table tennis after hurrying their dinner, eschewing the traditional pre-match team meal. Son eventually confronted the younger players, which caused the tussle.

Though the two football stars acknowledged that such a dispute took place, nobody went on the record to confirm the details of the altercation.

Kim, known to be close to Son, said to the press on Friday after his match against Daejeon Hana Citizen at the Jeonju World Cup Stadium that he is “keeping in touch with his Team Korea teammates, asking them if they are doing well.”

“[Though we keep in touch], we don’t talk about the dispute that happened,” Kim said. “I also received an apology from Lee.”

Lee apologized for his part in an argument with senior players on Instagram the same day reports were released about him having an altercation with Son.

Lee also met up with Son in London to apologize to him in person, with Son issuing a call for fans to forgive Lee.

“I recently talked with Hwang Hee-chan because of his injury,” Kim said.

Wolverhampton Wanderers' Hwang Hee-chan suffered an injury during the FA Cup fifth-round game against Brighton on Wednesday and the team later announced that the player will be out for six weeks due to a hamstring injury.

Kim also talked about Hwang Sun-hong, the newly appointed interim manager of the national team, who visited the stadium while Kim was playing.

“I didn’t know that the manager was coming today,” he said. “I believe that he will select players for the national team based on what he thinks suits the team best.”

Hwang Sun-hong was appointed on Feb. 27 as the interim manager of the senior national team until May, after the KFA removed Jurgen Klinsmann from the manager position on Feb. 16.

Hwang Sun-hong is currently managing the Korean U-23 national team.

BY KIM JI-YE [kim.jiye@joongang.co.kr]