Hong Joon-pyo's Remarks Spark Public Discussion on Athlete's Selection for National Team

Courtesy of Son Heung-min's instagram

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo wrote and subsequently deleted a series of comments on his Facebook page, seemingly targeting national soccer team player Lee Kang-in. In his post, Hong referenced the term "gapjil," denoting the abuse of power, and mentioned "gold spoons," a Korean term for individuals born into privilege.

While Hong did not explicitly name Lee, his previous criticisms of the Paris-Saint Germain midfielder, whom he has previously referred to as a "gold spoon," led many to interpret the remarks as directed towards him. 

▲ Courtesy of Son Heung-min's instagramThe mayor's past comments have also compared Lee to another player, Son Heung-min, both of whom Hong characterized as "soccer golden spoons." Hong's criticism of Lee intensified after an altercation between Lee and national team captain Son Heung-min during the Asian Cup in Qatar in 2023.

Despite Lee's inclusion in the new national team roster announced by interim coach Hwang Sun-hong, Hong expressed disappointment, stating that Lee's selection disregarded public sentiment. He further declared his intention to boycott national team games for the time being.

The incident has reignited discussions on the role of privilege and personality traits in professional sports and has drawn attention to the intersection of sports and public opinion in South Korea.

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Kelly.K, pittou8181@gmail.com