Sayart.net - South Korean National Soccer Team Announces 23-Man Squad Amidst Public Scrutiny

PSG Midfielder Lee Kang-in Included in Roster Following Recent Incident with Team Captain Son Heung-min

Courtesy of Lee Kang-in's instagram

South Korean men's national soccer team head coach, Hwang Sun-hong, revealed the 23-man squad on Monday for the upcoming Group C matches in the Asian qualifying tests for the 2026 World Cup. Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Lee Kang-in, who recently faced public backlash for a scuffle with team captain Son Heung-min, has been included in the squad.

Acknowledging public concern over the incident, the interim coach emphasized that addressing the issue could potentially strengthen team chemistry. Hwang Sun-hong mentioned in a press conference that he has spoken to both players and believes resolving on-field conflicts is crucial for team unity. 

▲ Courtesy of Lee Kang-in's instagram

South Korea is scheduled to face Thailand twice in March for their Group C matches, with the first match at Seoul World Cup Stadium on March 21 and the second in Bangkok on March 26. The national team, having secured wins against Singapore and China in the second round, aims to finish in the top two of their group to advance in the qualifiers.

The squad announcement comes after the Asian Football Confederation Asian Cup in Qatar last month, where the South Korean team faced a 2-0 loss in the semifinals to Jordan. The reported altercation between Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min, involving a ping pong game disagreement, garnered public attention and scrutiny.

▲ Hwang Sun-hong / Courtesy of KFA

Despite the incident, Lee Kang-in visited Son Heung-min in London to offer a personal apology, though calls from public figures, including Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo, have suggested that Lee should be excluded from the national team.

Coach Hwang expressed that the issue goes beyond the two players involved, implicating the entire squad, coaching staff, and supporting staff. He issued an apology to fans disappointed by the ordeal.

▲ Courtesy of Son Heung-min's Instagram

The team roster includes familiar names like Son Heung-min and Kim Min-jae, along with three players from South Korea's division 1 K-League making their debut. Notably, Joo Min-kyu, a 33-year-old forward, earned a spot on the team for the first time.

However, Lee Seung-woo of Suwon FC, despite fan expectations, did not make the team and has not been part of the national squad since 2019.

The complete list of the men's national squad comprises Cho Geu-sung, Joo Min-kyu (forward); Son Heung-min, Lee Kang-in, Lee Jae-sung, Hong Hyun-seok, Hwang In-beom, Jeong Woo-yeong, Jeong Ho-yeon, Park Jin-seob, Um Won-sang, Paik Seung-ho (midfield); Kim Young-gwon, Lee Myung-jae, Seol Young-woo, Kim Min-jae, Kwon Kyung-won, Kim Jin-su, Cho Yu-min, Kim Moon-hwan (defenders); Jo Hyeon-woo, Song Bum-keun, Lee Chang-eun (goalkeepers).

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