"Table Tennis Gate" Cleansman Speaks Late... Seok Gyeong-deok: "What Qualification Do You Have?"

Seokyeongdeok "Reflect Before Blaming Korean Culture"

Former South Korea national football team coach J?rgen Klinsmann recently sparked controversy by making remarks that seemed to mock Korea during a broadcast, and Professor Seokyung Deok of Sungshin Women's University revealed that he sent a protest email.

On the 30th, Professor Seo opened his statement on his Facebook, saying, "Klinsmann recently appeared on Austria's ServusTV sports talk show and made negative comments about Korea, causing controversy."

In the broadcast, Klinsmann referred to the so-called 'Table Tennis Gate' that occurred during the Asian Cup, saying, "In Korean culture, I learned that even if you are wrong, the older person is always right." He also claimed that although they lost in the semifinals the day after the physical altercation, it was the best result Korea had achieved in the Asian Cup in 15 years. Regarding his dismissal, Klinsmann said, "In Korean culture, someone had to take responsibility," and "Since the players had to participate in the next tournament, it was the coach's turn."

Jurgen Klinsmann, former head coach of the South Korea national football team.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Professor Seo sent a protest email to Klinsmann regarding his comments about Korea, criticizing him by saying, "Not only do you lack tactics and ability, but with your frequent absences and non-residency in Korea, you are not qualified to speak about Korean football." He continued, "Check the major international news articles related to the Asian Cup. There are no articles praising you at all," and added, "Before blaming Korean culture, reflect on yourself first."

Professor Seo pointed out, "Klinsmann received harsh criticism during the Asian Cup for his insincere attitude and incompetent leadership," and "He neglected conflicts within the team and showed irresponsible control over the squad, which led to his dismissal in February."

Finally, he concluded his statement by saying, "Just as we have consistently responded to celebrities making disparaging remarks about Korea, we will continue to take strong action going forward."

Meanwhile, Klinsmann was dismissed on February 16 after the Korean team was eliminated in the semifinals following a poor performance at the Asian Cup in January. Since then, he has returned to the United States, where his home is located, and has been working as a panelist on various sports broadcasts such as ESPN.