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[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

"I have dreamed of becoming the top scorer since I was young, but I never thought it would actually come true."

Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has become the first Asian to be the joint top scorer in the English Premier League (EPL), drawing attention to the economic impact.

On the 23rd (Korean time), Son Heung-min started in the final 38th round of the 2021-2022 EPL season against Norwich City at Carrow Road in Norwich, UK, scoring his 22nd and 23rd goals consecutively. Tottenham's victory that day also secured a spot in the UEFA Champions League (UCL) group stage.

Becoming the EPL top scorer is a dream that guarantees wealth and fame. Not only does it elevate his status as a football player, but Son Heung-min's value as a celebrity is also expected to soar. Forbes Korea announced last month the '2022 Power Celebrity' overall rankings, placing Son Heung-min third after BTS and Blackpink. This ranking was based on a comprehensive evaluation of appearance fees for broadcasting, advertising, and his activities.

Last year, Son Heung-min reportedly earned around 6 billion KRW from domestic advertisements for food, shampoo, razors, and more. Products such as automobiles, mobile phones, finance, food (ramen, ice cream, etc.), and clothing, which Son Heung-min has previously endorsed, are also expected to benefit from the spillover effect of his EPL top scorer achievement.

The Korea Tourism Organization is also anticipating the Son Heung-min effect. Tottenham plans to cooperate with the Tourism Organization to promote travel to Korea ahead of their visit in July. Last year, large advertisements featuring Son Heung-min were placed on London double-decker buses, among other marketing efforts to encourage visits to Son Heung-min's hometown.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Based on Son Heung-min's performance, Tottenham is expected to earn substantial participation fees and TV broadcasting rights fees by advancing to the UCL. Each team receives 15.25 million euros (20.4 billion KRW) for participating in the group stage (round of 32). Additional prize money is awarded depending on results such as wins in the group stage or advancing beyond the round of 16.

If Tottenham achieves better-than-expected results in the UCL, the Korea Tourism Organization's marketing centered on Son Heung-min could gain momentum.

The reason domestic and international attention is focused on Son Heung-min's achievement is because he is a top scorer of a different caliber. This underscores Son Heung-min's star power.

Son Heung-min shares the top scorer position with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah, both having scored 23 goals. All 23 of Son Heung-min's goals are field goals. Salah scored five of his 23 goals from penalty kicks. Among EPL top scorers in history, only four players, including Son Heung-min, Dimitar Berbatov (2010-2011, 20 goals), Luis Suarez (2013-2014, 31 goals), and Sadio Mane (2018-2019, 22 goals), have won the top scorer title without scoring any penalty goals.

The 23 goals are Son Heung-min's highest tally in a single regular season. He broke his previous record of 17 goals set last season within just one year. He also surpassed the record for most goals in a European regular league season by a Korean footballer, previously set by former national team coach Cha Bum-kun during the 1985-1986 season with Bayer Leverkusen in the German Bundesliga.

Son Heung-min is the first Asian player to become the top scorer in the five major leagues: England, Spain, Germany, Italy, and France. Although Iran's Alireza Jahanbakhsh was the top scorer in the 2017-2018 Dutch Eredivisie season with 21 goals while playing for AZ Alkmaar, the Dutch league is not classified as a big league.

[Image source=AP Yonhap News]

Antonio Conte said, "Son Heung-min did an especially excellent job. I am really happy that he overcame the pressure and became the top scorer." Son's close teammate Kane also said, "Son Heung-min showed insane performance this season. I sincerely congratulate him on becoming the top scorer."

Son Heung-min has scored 93 goals (in 232 matches) over seven seasons in the EPL. He needs just seven more goals to surpass 100 career goals. If he plays alongside Kane next season, they could continue to extend the record for the most combined goals in EPL history. The two players have combined for 41 goals, the highest in EPL history.

They surpassed the 36 goals scored by the Frank Lampard?Didier Drogba duo long ago. Son Heung-min could be recorded as a Tottenham legend. He ranks 10th in all-time scoring with 131 goals in 325 matches. He is only two goals behind 9th place Alan Gilzean (133 goals in 439 matches).