Expresses Disappointment Over Empty Seats at the Stadium
Boos from the Stands as Hong Myungbo Is Introduced
Kangin Lee (24, Paris Saint-Germain), who has emerged as the next ace of the South Korean national football team, made a statement asking football fans to refrain from criticizing head coach Hong Myungbo and the Korea Football Association. On the 10th, Lee led the South Korean national team to a 4-0 victory over Kuwait in the final match of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asia third qualifying round at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Selected as the Player of the Match, Lee said near the end of the press conference, "I'm not sure if I should say this, but there are people who attack Coach Hong Myungbo and the Football Association and feel uncomfortable," adding, "We (the players) are also part of the Football Association, and the coach is our boss. If there is only excessive criticism like this, it also affects the players."
After finishing the press conference, Lee also commented in the mixed zone (the joint interview area), "Reporters and, these days, many people on YouTube are talking a lot about the Football Association," and added, "Criticism is, of course, natural, but I mean that excessive criticism is not good. Since I became a national team player, I think today was the day with the most empty seats in the stadium," expressing his disappointment.
Kangin Lee is expressing his thoughts after winning the final match of the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup Asia third qualifying round against Kuwait at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 10th. Photo by Yonhap News
On this day, only about 40,000 spectators attended Seoul World Cup Stadium, which has a capacity of 65,000, and there were boos from the stands when Coach Hong was introduced. Last year, suspicions of preferential treatment arose when the Korea Football Association appointed Coach Hong through an unfair process, and even now, many fans still look coldly at both Coach Hong and Korea Football Association President Chung Monggyu. Lee emphasized, "I'm not saying this to attack the fans," and added, "I just hope you can help us a little so that the players can play football more happily and bring more happiness to many people."
As a child, Lee appeared on the entertainment program "Fly Shoot Dori" and once spoke of three dreams: becoming a national team player, winning the Champions League, and winning the World Cup. This season, having experienced a UEFA Champions League victory with his club Paris Saint-Germain (France), Lee said, "I learned that even difficult dreams are not impossible if we truly become one team and do our best," and added, "I want to prepare well for a year and do my best to achieve the World Cup victory I've dreamed of since I was young." Regarding recent transfer rumors linking him to Napoli (Italy), Lee said, "No one knows what will happen. There has been no discussion with the club. I know nothing, and I am only seeing it in the news myself," choosing his words carefully.
© The Asia Business Daily(www.asiae.co.kr). All rights reserved.
