'I think he is traumatized': Korean footballer Son Jun-ho released after 319 days detained in China

Social Affairs

Published: 26 Mar. 2024, 11:39 Updated: 26 Mar. 2024, 16:49

'I think he is traumatized': Korean footballer Son Jun-ho released after 319 days detained in China

Korea's Son Jun-ho stands prior to the start of a friendly against Cameroon at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Sept. 27, 2022. [AP/YONHAP]

Korean footballer Son Jun-ho returned to Korea on Monday after being detained in China for 319 days, ending the long battle for his release.

The Korea Football Association confirmed Son landed at Incheon International Airport in Incheon on Monday afternoon and said it would provide further information once it confirms more details.

“It seems that his return to Korea was tense," football commentator Park Moon-sung said in a video detailing a phone call with Son posted to YouTube on Monday. "He said he was already released last week. He could not tell anybody until he took a flight in China and landed in Korea, because he was afraid of being arrested again."

Park, who frequently interviews national team players in his role as a commentator, said Son phoned him after his return.

“When I asked him, he said every process is finished," Park said in the video. "He said that he never has to go back to China again and go through difficulties, but I think he is traumatized.”

Son, who most recently played for Shandong Taishan in the Chinese Super League, was detained on May 12 last year at an airport in Shanghai in what China called a bribery investigation.

Chinese authorities formally arrested Son in June, exactly 37 days after detaining him. Under Chinese law, police can detain suspects for up to 37 days before a prosecutor approves an arrest. Authorities also arrested Son’s agent in China.

The arrest came amid a crackdown on match-fixing in Chinese football but was interpreted as a possible political move aimed at putting pressure on the Korean government. The exact details surrounding Son’s arrest remain unclear.

“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs communicated with China through various avenues and requested cooperation for a fair and quick procedure,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement released Monday. “The ministry closely communicated with his family in Korea and held 20 meetings with consular officials, in addition to actively providing necessary support like offering Son a lawyer.”

Whether Son was found innocent in China has yet to be confirmed.

Son, 31, played for Shandong from 2021 to 2023 and has 20 caps for Korea, including appearing at the 2022 Qatar World Cup.

“Son cried right after I answered the phone,” Park said in the video. “He said thank you as he continuously cried. He said that he was able to come back as a lot of people thought about him and showed support for him."

National team regular pick Lee Jae-sung shared his support for Son following news of his return.

“I don’t know what happened, but we teammates prayed and cheered for him,” Lee said during a pregame press conference ahead of a 2026 World Cup qualifier against Thailand in Bangkok, Thailand on Monday. “I want him to play football he likes again, and I will support him.”

Son, who is without a club, has yet to publicly comment on the situation or reveal whether he will continue playing football as of press time Tuesday.

Before joining Shandong in 2021, Son spent time in the K League, playing for the Pohang Steelers from 2014 to 2017 and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors from 2018 through 2020.

He made his first cap in 2018 and last appeared for the national team in a friendly against Uruguay in March last year.

In a show of solidarity during his detention, former Korean national team manager Jurgen Klinsmann included Son on the roster for the team's friendlies last June.

BY PAIK JI-HWAN, JIM BULLEY [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]