Son Heungmin's Next Destination Confirmed as LAFC
Debate Among Netizens Over the Interview Scene
After the Coupang Play Series match on the 3rd, which became his farewell game with Tottenham Hotspur after a long tenure, a video of Son Heungmin's interview has belatedly gone viral online. During the interview, which took place in the rain, internet users compared Son Heungmin's interview scene with that of his teammate Ben Davies, focusing on who was holding the umbrella and engaging in a heated debate. On the 5th, a post titled "A photo that makes Korean women realize reality when they understand it" was uploaded to an online community. As of 8 a.m. on the 6th, the post had surpassed 120,000 views and received over 1,800 comments.
After the match between Tottenham and Newcastle at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd, Son Heungmin is giving an interview. Tottenham's Ben Davies is also sharing his thoughts after the game (right). Captured from an online community.
The author of the post uploaded screenshots from the interview videos of Son Heungmin and Davies at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 3rd, without any explanation. Both players, representing Tottenham, were being interviewed by a female reporter in the rain after the match ended in a 1-1 draw. Son Heungmin was seen holding a microphone in one hand, with his other hand behind his back, speaking toward the camera. Next to him, the female reporter held an umbrella in one hand and a microphone in the other. In contrast, Davies was captured holding a microphone in one hand and an umbrella in the other. Thanks to Davies holding the umbrella, the reporter was able to hold the microphone with both hands.
Judging by the title, the author seemed to highlight Davies's manners and etiquette in kindly holding the umbrella. In contrast, Son Heungmin let the female reporter hold the umbrella, creating a stark difference between the two players. Internet users responded with comments such as, "Westerners are taught to do this from a young age," "When arguing with a female referee, he stood at ease," "Usually, the stronger or taller person holds the umbrella," and "Western manners are indeed different," praising Davies's actions. On the other hand, some users responded, "Isn't it actually strange to make the player being interviewed hold the umbrella?" and "If Son Heungmin had held the umbrella, people would have speculated that he was interested in the female reporter."
Meanwhile, one user commented, "Basic manners differ by country. It's just a matter of social atmosphere," referencing etiquette culture. The user continued, "One of the etiquette customs you almost never see overseas is a boyfriend or husband carrying a woman's handbag," and pointed out, "It's actually strange to call Son Heungmin rude based on different etiquette cultures in each country."
Meanwhile, Son Heungmin, who played for Tottenham for 10 years, recently stated in an interview, "It might be my last World Cup, so I think I need an environment where I can give everything. That was a big factor," hinting at a move to a Major League Soccer (MLS) club in the United States, where the next North and Central America World Cup will be held next year. The destination, which had long been rumored to be Los Angeles FC (LAC), has now been solidified. Son Heungmin scored 127 Premier League (EPL) goals, 19 domestic cup goals, and 27 goals in European club competitions, along with a total of 101 assists in 454 official matches for Tottenham. In the 2021-2022 EPL season, he scored 23 goals, sharing the top scorer title with Mohamed Salah (Liverpool), and contributed to Tottenham's UEFA Europa League victory in May.
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