Son Heung-min Breaks Silence on World Cup Group-Stage Exit, Draws Support From Korean Celebrities

South Korea's national soccer team captain Son Heung-min broke his silence on the country's group-stage elimination at the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Korean entertainers quickly stepped in to back him up.

Son posted a lengthy apology on his social media on June 30. "I don't know where to start," he wrote. "I can't pretend nothing happened, and I don't want to run from reality."

He addressed fans directly. "First, I want to say I am truly sorry to the people of South Korea and to the fans who love soccer," he wrote. "This tournament meant more to me than anyone can know. It feels like the stage that was a childhood dream has collapsed, and I can't put into words how heavy that is. Honestly, it's still hard to accept what happened."

Son said he would try to earn back the trust of fans. "I will do everything I can from my position to win back your hearts. I'll work like my life depends on it so I can bring you joy again." He also asked the public to ease up on the rest of the squad. "Please send warm support and encouragement to all the players rather than too much criticism and hurt."

The response from the Korean entertainment world came fast. Kim Hee-chul of Super Junior left an animated image of himself crying in the comments to show his sympathy. Actor Park Seo-jun, singers Crush, John Park, PSY, Yang Yo-seob and DinDin, TV personalities Moon Se-yoon, Jung Jun-ha, Oh Sang-jin, Shin Bong-sun and Lee Hyun-yi, and rapper Nucksal all liked the post in a show of support.

South Korea bowed out of the 2026 FIFA World Cup after a 0-1 loss to South Africa in their final Group A match, finishing third in the group with one win and two losses. After the early exit, head coach Hong Myung-bo stepped down, taking responsibility for the team's results.