Son Heung-min, the captain of South Korea, has expressed his deep regret over the team’s exit from the World Cup group stage, stating he feels “indescribably hurt” and wishes to “win back the hearts” of his countrymen.
In an emotional post on Instagram Monday night, Son, a celebrated footballer in South Korea and a prominent player in MLS with LAFC, acknowledged the disappointment felt by fans following the team’s performances, which have faced scrutiny from the nation’s president and resulted in coach Hong Myung-bo’s resignation.
“I can’t truly express the disappointment and pain that the fans feel with just a single ‘sorry,'” Son remarked, “so even saying those words falls short.”
“The ‘dream stage’ I always spoke of has crumbled,” he continued. “I feel indescribably trapped and wounded. Honestly, I still find it hard to accept this reality.”
South Korea began the tournament with a win against Czechia but went on to lose their subsequent Group A matches to Mexico and South Africa, failing to progress in the tournament.
He also encouraged supporters to offer “warm support and encouragement rather than criticism” towards all players.
Having spent a decade at Tottenham, Son transferred to LAFC in August 2025 for a record MLS fee of $26 million.