Parents defend Son Heung-min's father after he is questioned in child abuse investigation

Son Woong-jung [YONHAP]

Parents of some children that attend Son Football Academy run by Son Heung-min’s father Son Woong-jung released a statement Thursday defending the elder Son a day after he was questioned by prosecutors over child abuse allegations.

“The peaceful lives of the kids that worked hard have turned into a mess,” the statement attributed to the "parents of players at the academy" said. “The impact of one child and one parent that were part of the program for just a moment and left is truly immense.”

Son Heung-min's father among coaches accused of child abuse: Reports

The parents defended Son Woong-jung and the coaches at the academy, saying in the statement that they are being treated as if they have committed a serious crime, even though they cherish the kids.

The incident stems from a criminal complaint in March brought by the parents of a middle school student who learned football at the academy.

The elder Son, who runs the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon, Gangwon, and two coaches are accused of verbally and physically abusing a player during a training camp in Okinawa, Japan in March.

The parents of the player reported Son and the two coaches to the police in March after finding a bruise on their son’s thigh. The parents claim that a coach struck their son in the thigh with a corner flag on March 9, requiring two weeks of treatment.

The player also reported that he and three other players were struck on the bottom after failing to run fast enough, were hit in different body parts by a coach while in the dormitory and were verbally abused by Son.

Gangwon provincial police referred the case to the prosecution in April. According to Yonhap News Agency citing confidential sources, Son was questioned by prosecutors on Wednesday.

But the parents of some footballers maintained in their statement Thursday that Son and the coaches would not abuse children.

They also criticized a move by four Korean civic groups that requested a thorough investigation into the incident earlier this month.

“Those from civic groups who have never come to the pitch criticized manager [Son] by saying he is violent, and the Korea Sport Ethics Center that had never paid attention is warning that it will disrupt the academy,” the statement said. “We have spent years at the academy and there has never been a punishment. They have never even required excessive training because doing so is harmful.”

The parents also said in the statement that everyone should stop making the academy members look like victims.

BY KIM JI-HYE, PAIK JI-HWAN [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]