Shin Moon-sun questions 'manipulation' behind attacks on Son Heung-min

Myongji University professor Shin Moon-sun has raised questions about a recent surge in attacks targeting national team captain Son Heung-min.

Shin addressed the controversy surrounding the national team on his video channel Monday.

"Looking at how things have suddenly been linked to captain Son Heung-min of late, I wonder if someone is manipulating this again," he said. He also expressed suspicion over what he described as efforts to attack and disadvantage Son.

Shin stressed that "the public has good judgment," suggesting that fans watching Korean football would be able to assess the situation accurately. However, no confirmed evidence exists of any organized campaign or deliberate effort to shape public opinion against Son.

The controversy emerged during a run of four A-match fixtures in September and October. The national team, led by interim head coach Robert Moreno, beat Ecuador 3-0 but lost 4-1 to Uruguay, drew 0-0 with Venezuela, and defeated Uzbekistan 2-0, finishing the stretch with two wins, one draw and one loss.

When the four matches were over, however, what lingered was talk of discord within the squad.

Key defender Kim Min-jae was substituted off against Venezuela and threw his boots to the ground afterward, then publicly vented his frustration in a post-match interview, saying "the defenders are pitiful." During the match, he also appeared to argue with coach Moreno on the sideline.

Hwang In-beom, who is the same age as Kim, made an unusual remark calling for leadership at the association. "My body is worn out and so is my mind. I want Korean football to develop in a good direction, but it doesn't seem to be happening, and I feel a sense of responsibility," he said. "There is no one to help us. There is no one at the Korea Football Association, there is no chairman. The coach is also here on a temporary basis, so we don't know what the future holds."

Online, criticism then extended to questioning Son's leadership of the team.

Meanwhile, the Korea Football Association issued an official statement Tuesday urging the public to refrain from speculation and personal attacks against the players. The association expressed concern over the spread of unverified information and unsubstantiated claims on social media and online communities, warning against treating internal discord within the squad as established fact based on fragmentary interpretations of training footage or everyday moments.