Even after one of the most painful endings of his career, Son Heung Min’s first instinct was to apologize.
Following South Korea’s disappointing World Cup exit, the national team captain returned to Instagram with a lengthy, emotional message addressed to Korean citizens and soccer fans.
The message came amid intense public backlash toward South Korea’s national team coach Hong Myung Bo, who has faced heavy criticism from fans after the team failed to advance. Online, many fans have been directing their anger toward the Korea Football Association and the coaching staff rather than the players.
Son Heung Min, however, used his statement to take responsibility, apologize to fans, and ask that the players not be hurt further by excessive criticism. In his full statement, Son wrote, “I don’t know where to begin. I can’t pretend not to know, and I don’t want to avoid reality.”
First and foremost, I want to sincerely apologize to the people of South Korea and to all the fans who love soccer.
As someone who also loves soccer, if I had watched a match like this, I think I would have felt truly heartbroken, frustrated, and devastated. That is why I feel that simply saying I’m sorry could never fully contain the disappointment and hurt that fans must be feeling. Even saying those words feels far from enough.
To the fans who are going through a harder time than anyone else, with so many emotions crossing their minds every day and every moment, this is something I really wanted to say.
This tournament was more precious to me than anything, and it feels as though the ‘dream stage of a little boy’ that I have always spoken about has collapsed. I feel indescribably complicated and heartbroken. To be honest, even now, it is not easy to accept this reality.
When I think of the fans who must be carrying far greater disappointment and pain than I am, I am cautious even about speaking of my own feelings. But I believe the feelings fans are experiencing are not very different from mine.
I know very well that so many things were sacrificed for this stage. I also feel a great sense of responsibility for the fact that we ultimately could not repay the time, heart, unwavering support, and love you gave us. I am truly so sorry. And I sincerely thank everyone who believed in us, supported us, and stayed with us until the end.
Rather than trying to express everything in words like this, I will return to my place and do my very best to win back the hearts of the people of South Korea and soccer fans. I will run as if my life depends on it so that I can bring you joy again.
I have never forgotten the promise I made with the fans. Until the fans look for me again, until the fans need me again, I will pour everything I have into preparing well again.
Lastly, I feel heavy-hearted and sorry to ask this of fans once again in a situation like this, but I sincerely ask that, instead of giving too much criticism and hurt to all the players, as difficult as it may be, please send them warm support and encouragement.
Thank you for reading this long message until the end.
— Son Heung Min
The post quickly drew emotional responses from fans, many of whom were heartbroken to see Son apologizing despite the criticism being largely directed elsewhere. Many fans said Son had nothing to apologize for, calling him South Korea’s eternal captain and urging him to stay with the national team until the next World Cup.
Others expressed their frustration with the Korea Football Association and the coaching staff, arguing that the players should not be blamed for the disappointing result.
- I just want Heung Min to be happy playing soccer.
- Separate from the fact that the players did nothing wrong and I’m grateful to them, this time, the Football Association really needs to be picked apart and investigated thoroughly. We need to completely destroy all the corrupt old forces and rebuild the association from scratch.
- Be happy, Heung Min. Do everything you want to do…
- Cries
- He must have really struggled a lot… Since he says he’ll prepare well again, I don’t want to let him go for the next World Cup either.
- His character is really on another level.
- He must be feeling terrible inside… Stay strong.
- Hey, Heung Min! Messi is five years older than you and still played in the World Cup. You should play in the World Cup four years from now, too, and settle the regrets from this one!
- I’m rooting for Heung Min.
- This hurts so much… Please keep playing until the next World Cup.
- The person who should be apologizing is staying quiet. What did Son Heung Min do wrong?
- I can feel his sincerity… I’m always rooting for Heung Min!
- Even aside from football, he’s so admirable as the captain of a team.
South Korea’s World Cup campaign ended in disappointment after the team failed to advance from the group stage. The result has since sparked widespread debate over the national team’s leadership, strategy, and the future of Korean soccer.
Hong Myung Bo, who had been heavily criticized by fans even before the tournament due to controversy surrounding his appointment, has been at the center of much of the backlash.
Before his resignation, Hong was already being slammed for his post-match press conference after the South Africa loss. Some fans felt his attitude did not come across as apologetic enough, adding to the anger already surrounding his coaching decisions and South Korea’s early exit.
시팔 표정부터 목소리까지 다 마음에 안들어 왜이리 존나 후련한거같냐 아 짜증나 pic.twitter.com/tSXK5k9aOB
— 흥쏜 (@hmsonny0708_7) June 28, 2026
F*ck, I hate everything from his expression to his voice. Why does he seem so damn relieved? Ugh, this is so annoying.
— @hmsonny0708_7/X
The backlash only intensified after South Korea’s elimination, with Hong eventually stepping down as head coach. According to reports, he announced his resignation at a press conference, apologized to fans, and accepted responsibility for the team’s failed campaign.
- I bet he’s usually like that too.
- Wow… Even at a company, if you don’t produce results, you can’t act like that.
- He took everything he could get, has no sense of responsibility, and the World Cup is already over. Now he’s resigning? He’s just running away because he doesn’t want to be cursed at. He’s not taking even 1% responsibility for the World Cup results or the criticism that came with them, so what “responsibility” is he taking by resigning?
- Those aren’t the words or attitude of someone apologizing…
- He lived taking ₩2.00 billion KRW (about $1.30 million USD) a year after taxes, so do you think he would even care that the public is criticizing him? The world is unfair. At least I’ll live my own life well, I guess… Honestly, he probably didn’t care about Korean football from the start.
- He just looks like he wants to go home quickly LOL.
- Useless douche.
- That’s not a resignation. He’s running away.
- There’s not even 1% sincerity. He just looks like he wants to leave quickly.
- Hong Suk Yeol
- He doesn’t seem sorry at all?????
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