"Welcome Back Junho!"... Son Heung-min's Shouted Words in the Thailand Match... Truly Exemplary Character

Soccer Player Son Jun-ho, Detained in China, Returns Safely
Son Heung-min: "News Korean Football Fans Have Been Waiting For"

"Welcome Back Junho!"

Son Heung-min (Tottenham), captain of the South Korean national football team, made headlines by shouting this right after scoring a goal against Thailand on the 26th (Korean time).

On that day, Son Heung-min scored an additional goal in the 9th minute of the second half during the 4th match of Group C in the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asian second qualifying round held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, receiving a pass from Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain).

The official YouTube channel of the Korea Football Association uploaded a video capturing the moment. The video showed Son Heung-min celebrating after scoring. After sharing his joy with Lee Kang-in, he noticed the camera while walking toward the stands and approached it. Then, he shouted "Welcome Back Junho!" and, while heading back to the fans, performed a fist-clenching celebration.

On the 26th, at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand, the 4th match of Group C in the second round of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asian qualifiers took place between Korea and Thailand. Son Heung-min, who scored the team's second goal in the second half, is celebrating.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

This appears to commemorate the return of Son Junho, a former national football player who was detained in China and released after 10 months. Son Junho, who was playing for Shandong Taishan in China, was detained last May at Shanghai Hongqiao Airport 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 before being recently released.

Son Heung-min and Son Junho were both born in 1992. Son Heung-min also mentioned Son Junho in the mixed zone after the match. He said, "I think it’s still quite early to talk about it," but added, "It’s a happy thing that Junho has returned to Korea. It’s news that Korean football fans have been waiting for." Son Heung-min also said, "I have really been waiting for Junho, and everyone has been waiting, but I hope to observe the situation a little longer and that a day will come when I can talk about it."

Photo of Son Jun-ho giving an interview at the Al Egla training ground in Doha, Qatar, during the 2022 Qatar World Cup in November 2022. [Image source=Yonhap News]

Besides Son Heung-min, peers born in the same year such as Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk) and Lee Jae-sung (Mainz) were also happy about Son Junho’s return. The day before, Lee Jae-sung said at an official press conference, "Junho and I are friends and have played football together for a long time," adding, "Hearing the news that he was detained in China was very heartbreaking and difficult. I am grateful to hear the good news." He continued, "I don’t know what happened, but teammates have been praying and supporting him," and said, "I support and encourage him to play the football he loves again."

Meanwhile, Son Junho shared on his Instagram, "My greetings are very late. I have safely returned and am spending peaceful time with my family, feeling grateful to enjoy an ordinary daily life." He added, "I sincerely thank the people of the Republic of Korea who have not forgotten, cared, waited, and worried for a long time."