Son Junho "Feeling Grateful for Ordinary Days" Official Statement... Flood of Support from Football Community

"Return safely and spend peaceful time with family"
"Thankful to the people who worried"

Son Jun-ho (31), a former national soccer team player who was detained by Chinese authorities, has been released and returned to Korea after 10 months, and he has shared his first thoughts.

On the 26th, Son Jun-ho posted on his Instagram, "My greetings are very late. I am grateful to have returned safely, spending peaceful time with my family and enjoying an ordinary daily life." He continued, "I sincerely thank the people of the Republic of Korea who have not forgotten, shown interest, waited, and worried about me for a long time." Along with this, Son Jun-ho also uploaded a photo of the moon in the night sky.

The photo shows Son Jun-ho being interviewed at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup in November. [Image source=Yonhap News]

The post received supportive comments from fellow players. Lee Dong-gook, who once played together with Son at Jeonbuk Hyundai, commented, "I'm glad you're safe. Take care of both your body and mind quickly." Song Eui-young (Persebaya Surabaya) said, "I'm relieved you returned safely. You worked hard," and Lee Beom-young (Suwon FC) wrote, "You worked hard, Jun-ho."

[Image source=Son Junho Instagram]

Previously, Son Jun-ho, who was playing for Shandong Taishan in China, was detained by the public security at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in May last year while trying to return home. He was then criminally detained (temporarily arrested) on charges of bribery as a non-state actor and investigated by the Chaoyang Public Security Bureau in Liaoning Province. The charge of 'bribery by a non-state actor' applied to Son Jun-ho refers to cases where a person affiliated with a company or other entity, rather than a government agency, illegally receives property from others by exploiting their official duties.

Accordingly, there were speculations about involvement in match-fixing or the exchange of money during his transfer to Shandong, but Son Jun-ho's side has reportedly strongly denied these allegations.