"Victim's Parent, Are You Proud?"
"We Never Overtrained Them"
Son Woong-jung, the father of soccer player Son Heung-min and director of SON Soccer Academy (62), has been embroiled in a 'child abuse controversy,' and on the 4th, parents of the academy released a statement. The parents emphasized that "there was no corporal punishment within the academy that could be considered problematic."
Son Woong-jung Academy Parents Release Statement on the 4th
Son Woong-jung, the father of national soccer player Son Heung-min and director of SON Football Academy, is speaking at a press conference for his interview collection "I Read, Write, and Discard" held on the morning of April 17 at the Francisco Hall in Jung-gu, Seoul. [Image source=Yonhap News]
The parents issued a statement that day, saying, "The turmoil left by a child and a parent who stayed briefly is truly enormous," and added, "Despite the director's words telling us not to be discouraged and to train confidently, saying he would take all responsibility, photos of the director and coaches, who cared for the children more than anyone else, have appeared on the internet as if they had committed a serious crime, and the playground, once full of warmth where children and coaches played together, is now filled with gloom."
They continued, "The children who actually stay here are happy, so whose human rights are being protected, and who is this investigation for?" and questioned, "Who will take responsibility for the damage suffered by our children who train hard and sweat for their dreams? We ask the parent claiming to be a victim to put their hand on their heart and consider if they are truly righteous."
The parents emphasized that Director Son treats the children sincerely. They said, "Anyone who has experienced the director even for a day would never say that a child is being abused like the parent claiming to be a victim," and added, "We have never met a coach outside who genuinely treats children with such sincerity."
Also, they added, "We really cannot understand or help but resent that parent who calls the coaches' actions of hugging and rolling around with the children after practice abuse."
"No corporal punishment so far... No excessive training either"
The parents further claimed that Director Son and the coaches have never administered corporal punishment. They emphasized, "We have been at the academy for years, but there has never been any corporal punishment," and "They said excessive physical training before the children's bones and muscles mature is harmful, so they have never pushed the children excessively."
They also stated, "We parents are not supporting the director or saying corporal punishment is justified," and appealed, "We just want those outside who have not experienced the situation firsthand to stop imposing their own standards and portraying the academy members as victims of a major crime, which only torments us."
Finally, the parents said, "Please return to us and our children the daily life where we can laugh, talk, play, sometimes cry, and nod together with the director and coaches as we have until now," and "Please think of our children who silently move forward toward their dreams today as well."
'Child Abuse Charges' Director Son Woong-jung and Three Coaches Under First Prosecutor Investigation
Earlier, on the 2nd, Chuncheon District Prosecutors' Office summoned Director Son, Son Heung-min's older brother Son Heung-yoon, the head coach, and Coach A, three people accused of child abuse under the Child Welfare Act, for investigation.
Director Son and others are accused of physically or emotionally abusing child B, a youth soccer player affiliated with SON Soccer Academy. In March, B's side filed a complaint stating, "On March 9, during training camp in Okinawa, Head Coach Son struck B's thigh with a corner kick pole, causing injuries that required two weeks of treatment," accusing Director Son and others.
The complainant claimed in the police investigation that when B failed to follow the instruction to run from the goalpost to the center line within the designated time, Head Coach Son hit B's buttocks with a corner kick pole while B was in a prone position. They also alleged that during the training camp in Japan and at the accommodation in Gangwon Province, the three, including Director Son, verbally abused B for poor training performance, hit B's buttocks and calves multiple times, pulled B's sideburns, and struck B's head.
Regarding this incident, Director Son stated, "I swear there were never any words or actions without the premise of love for the children," and explained, "However, many parts of the complainant's claims are different from the truth."
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