Kim Min-jae apologizes for not bowing; defends decision to confront fans

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Kim Min-jae apologizes for not bowing; defends decision to confront fans

Published: 10 Sep. 2024, 13:18 Updated: 10 Sep. 2024, 17:19

Kim Min-jae speaks during a press conference at a hotel in Oman on Monday ahead of a 2026 World Cup qualifier between Korea and Oman on Tuesday. [NEWS1]

Korean defender Kim Min-jae apologized for coming across as disrespectul to fans in a confrontation after Korea's draw with Palestine last week in a press conference Monday, but defended his decision to ask fans to stop booing manager Hong Myung-bo and the KFA while the team is playing.

Speaking at a pregame press conference ahead of Korea's World Cup qualifier against Oman on Tuesday, Kim addressed the incident on Thursday last week when he confronted members of the Korean Red Devils supporters group after the match at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul.

The Red Devils were vocal in their disapproval of Hong, who was controversially appointed as manager of the national team in July, and the KFA throughout the game, booing loudly whenever the manager appeared on the screen and when his name was announced in the roster ahead of the match.

Hong is a controversial pick for the national team job, as he took the position despite previously indicating his intention to reject the offer because he was manager at K League club Ulsan HD, and because KFA Technical Director Lee Lim-saeng appeared to bypass the entire selection committee process to unilaterally appoint Hong on his own.

Kim confronted fans after the game and asked them not to boo. His comments annoyed the more militant end of the Korean fanbase, who have historically been quick to turn on players that they consider to be disrespectful.

But the bigger crime, as far as many of those fans are concerned, is that Kim did not join the rest of the team in bowing to fans before they left the pitch, instead standing with his hands on his hips and staring the crowd down.

Kim Min-jae, left, looks at spectators at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul as the Korean national team bows after a 2026 World Cup qualifer between Korea and Palestine on Sept. 5. [SCREEN CAPTURE]

“I don’t think it was wrong to walk toward them and confront them,” Kim said in the press conference at a hotel in Oman on Monday. “But I admit that what I did next was wrong.

“There is nothing wrong with my mentality, but I think this is an opportunity to consider how I should communicate with fans from now on. I saw reports saying that supporters will no longer boo. I am thankful for that. But I admit my behavior was wrong, and I’m reflecting on that.”

Kim played the full 90 minutes of the qualifier against Palestine last week. The team had a disappointing game, drawing 0-0 with a country that sits 70 spots below Korea on the FIFA ranking.

Despite the draw, Kim backed the national team boss on Monday.

“He was the best in Korea, and I am glad to be with a manager who has a lot of experience with the national team,” Kim said. “He can give me feedback and advice on areas where I am lacking. I am trying to do well on the pitch as I remember the things he said.

“We don’t have enough preparation time for national team games. It is important to find cohesion with the players that the manager picked in a short time. It is also important to create good chemistry, communicate well and get on the pitch.”

On the pitch, Hong is a Korean footballing legend. He is tied for the most caps ever for the senior squad, at 136, and he was part of the team that reached the World Cup semifinals in 2002.

But his coaching career has not always been a success. After winning an Olympics bronze medal with the U-23 national squad in 2012, Hong took the helm of the senior team in 2013 but failed to secure a single win at the 2014 World Cup and left the position.

This is his second time in charge of the senior team. Another 0-0 draw against Oman will match the exact same start to his run with the team during his first stint as manager.

His first two games in charge ended goalless, followed by one loss and another goalless draw. He claimed his first win in his fifth match.

Tuesday’s qualifier against Oman will be Korea’s second game in the third round of qualifiers, in which the top two teams of six qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

The third and fourth-placed teams enter the fourth round to vie for World Cup tickets again. Korea sit in fourth as of press time.

BY PI JOO-YOUNG [paik.jihwan@joongang.co.kr]