'Bentoho's 27th Player' Oh Hyun-kyu Also Receives 60 Million Won

Excluding 100 Million Won for Advancing to the Round of 16

Soccer player Oh Hyun-kyu. Photo by Korea Football Association

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Isul] Oh Hyun-kyu (21, Suwon Samsung), a preliminary member of the 2022 Qatar World Cup national team, will receive a reward of 60 million KRW.

The Korea Football Association announced on the 15th, "Oh Hyun-kyu will be paid 60 million KRW, consisting of a base salary of 20 million KRW, a victory bonus of 30 million KRW, and a draw bonus of 10 million KRW." However, the 100 million KRW reward for advancing to the round of 16 is excluded.

Oh Hyun-kyu is the first player to participate in the World Cup as a preliminary member. He was called up three weeks before the World Cup opening when team captain Son Heung-min (30, Tottenham) had to undergo surgery for an orbital fracture, in case of possible absence. This was in recognition of his performance of 13 goals and 3 assists in this season's K League.

Son Heung-min quickly recovered and showed determination, playing full-time from the first group stage match against Uruguay. Although Oh Hyun-kyu, who was not included in the final 26-man squad, did not play in the World Cup matches, he trained with the other players throughout.

Soccer player Son Heung-min (left) Oh Hyun-kyu [Image source=Yonhap News]

At the return press conference held at Incheon International Airport on the 7th, Son Heung-min expressed affection, saying, "I am grateful to Oh Hyun-kyu. He sacrificed himself because of me. Even though he is a young player, he knew exactly what was needed and what role he had to play and fulfilled it faithfully."

Oh Hyun-kyu said on MBC Newsdesk the day before, "Since the 26 players did not receive compensation, they gathered money to take care of me." He conveyed his gratitude, saying that the national team players had not yet received their reward money but collected some money little by little and gave it to him.

Subsequently, the Korea Football Association stated, "We planned to pay the reward money, but Oh Hyun-kyu was simply unaware." They added, "There was no precedent because no additional players had been added before, but the decision to pay had already been made."