"Citizens Report Heung-min's Training"…Revisiting Son Woong-jung's Past Remarks

There Was Also Corporal Punishment, He Confessed
Son Heung-min Said, "It Was a Loving Spanking"

Son Woong-jung, the father of soccer player Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur) and director of the SON Soccer Academy, has been accused of child abuse, drawing attention to his past statements.

Son Woong-jung, father of national soccer team player Son Heung-min.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

Harsh Training Even for Son Heung-min: "Citizens Reported After Seeing Training"

Director Son Woong-jung mentioned the importance of fundamentals on tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" in December 2022, revealing that he was once reported to the police due to intense training.
[Image source=tvN's "You Quiz on the Block" capture]

On the 26th, prosecutors reported that Son Woong-jung and two coaches, A and B, were sent to the prosecution for investigation on charges of violating the Child Welfare Act (child abuse). Following this revelation, his previously used harsh training methods and past remarks regarding his son Son Heung-min have been reexamined. Son’s strict educational methods are well-known for being applied to his son as well. In December 2022, on tvN's 'You Quiz on the Block,' Son emphasized the importance of fundamentals, stating, "Heung-min practiced basic skills for six hours every day from third grade of elementary school to third grade of middle school, for six years." He added, "Someone even reported me to the police after seeing this. I think it was because I was too harsh." He continued, "I was very simple-minded. The most important thing was happiness," and said, "To be happy, you have to be good at soccer on the field. That was the only thought I had."

At a press conference in April to commemorate the publication of his interview collection 'I Read, Write, and Discard,' Son spoke about Son Heung-min enduring his harsh training, saying, "He had his dream here, so why would he get annoyed? Maybe he obeyed me quietly because he was afraid," but also added, "When his concentration dropped, I scolded him severely."

"Corporal Punishment Sometimes Necessary... But Not to Damage Personality"

In an interview with MBC's "Sports Expedition" in May 2018, Coach Son Woong-jung said, "I hit Heung-min a lot."
[Image source=MBC]

In a June 2020 interview, Son said, "I hit Heung-min a lot. Still, Heung-min loved playing soccer without showing any signs of hardship." In his 2021 book 'Everything Starts with the Basics,' he confessed, "I raised my children very strictly. Like water droplets wearing away a rock through repetition. That persistence and tenacity were necessary. That’s where the basics begin." He also revealed, "Because their father was scary, they probably couldn’t speak up, but they must have been bored and tired. When training Heung-yoon and Heung-min, I even heard people say, 'Are you a stepfather?'"

Regarding corporal punishment, he stated, "The Bible says, 'Foolishness is bound up in the heart of a child.' Jewish people still have fathers discipline their children physically." He argued, "There are cases where corporal punishment is necessary. You have to set boundaries for children about what is not allowed. And you must never compromise on that." However, he added, "After scolding, you must always make amends," and emphasized, "You should not scold in a fit of emotion or damage their personality. These are things that should be naturally observed."

Son’s Training Method: 'Punishment' vs. 'Discipline with Love' Divides Opinions

Opinions on Son’s educational methods are divided. BBC Sport, in a 2019 article about Son Woong-jung, described his training as "punitive," stating, "He made Son Heung-min practice for hours without letting the ball touch the ground. There were even harsher punishments." However, it also noted, "Son Heung-min accepted this as parental love and sublimated it through his own experience," concluding, "As a result, Son Heung-min enjoys passionate love from Korean fans more enthusiastic than any rock star."

Son Heung-min himself has said that what made him was his father’s 'discipline with love.' In a 2011 interview during his second professional year, he said, "I was hit a lot when I was young. My father even apologizes now for hitting me so much," adding, "That was discipline with love to prevent me from repeating the same mistakes. If it weren’t for my father, I wouldn’t be here. I want to express my gratitude to him."

Son Woong-jung, Father of Son Heung-min, Accused of Child Abuse: "Reflecting on Not Keeping Up with Changing Times"

Meanwhile, Son Woong-jung, accused of child abuse, is reported to have verbally abused youth players for mistakes made during training or for poor basic skills training. Regarding this, Son stated, "I did not want to make these precious children, who sweat on the field, just ordinary players who put in the same effort as others with the same feelings." He added, "I told the parents that I would train their children the same way I trained my own, and warned them about the harsh training." At the same time, he emphasized that he never forgot his affection for the children. He apologized to the children and families who were hurt, saying, "I reflect on not catching up with the changes of the times and the standards set by law, and on training the children only in my own way."