Kim Min-jae returns captain's armband to Son Heung-min in moment analyst calls 'moving and symbolic'

Football analyst Park Moon-sung has called it "a moving moment" — the scene after South Korea's 2026 World Cup match against the Czech Republic in which Kim Min-jae, having taken the captain's armband from a substituted Son Heung-min, walked over after the final whistle and fastened it back onto Son's arm himself.

Park posted about the moment on his social media Saturday, sharing a photo of Kim handing the armband back to Son and the two embracing. "A moving and symbolic moment from the Czech Republic match — a gift to all of us," he wrote.

Park explained that Son had passed the armband to Kim when he was substituted off in the second half, and that Kim had captained the side through to the final whistle.

Son came off in the 69th minute of South Korea's Group A opener against the Czech Republic at Guadalajara Stadium in Zapopan, Mexico, on June 12, replaced by Oh Hyeon-gyu and handing the armband to Kim as he left the pitch.

"The most impressive moment came after the final whistle," Park said. "With the victory sealed, Kim Min-jae immediately took off the armband, sought out Son Heung-min and put it back on his arm himself."

"It may seem like a small gesture, but it carries deep meaning," Park added. "It was a symbolic moment that showed the respect for the team's leader, the trust between teammates, and just how tightly bonded this South Korea squad really is."

South Korea had fallen behind 1-0 when Ladislav Krejci of Wolverhampton Wanderers scored in the 59th minute, but Lee Kang-in of Paris Saint-Germain set up Hwang In-beom's equalizer in the 67th minute to lay the groundwork for a comeback.

Oh Hyeon-gyu, who had replaced Son, then scored a dramatic winner in the 80th minute to secure all three points for South Korea.

South Korea moved into second place in the group, behind Mexico, who beat South Africa 2-0. The Koreans face Mexico in their second group-stage match at the same venue on June 19 at 10 a.m.

“축하합니다. 미스터 프레지던트”…李대통령, 伊서 받은 깜짝선물은?

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