Son Heung Min's Father And Brother Get Suspended From Coaching

The father and brother of Korean soccer star Son Heung Min have been suspended from coaching by sports authorities in the Gangwon Province.

On May 21, KST, the Gangwon Football Association (GFA) confirmed that Son Woong Jung, the father of Tottenham Hotspur star, had received a 3-month suspension, along with a fellow coach at his academy. Son’s brother, Son Heung Yoon, has received an even longer, six-month suspension.

Both of the suspensions were based on an investigation carried out by the government-affiliated Korea Sports Ethics Center (KSEC). The organization has been probing into the accusations of child abuse brought against the SON Football Academy. While the senior Son is a director at the academy, Son Heung Yoon is a coach.

In March 2024, several coaches at the academy were accused of physically abusing students. At that time, though Son Woong Jung apologized for the controversy, he also stated that many of the accusations were different from the truth.

I regret that I have failed to recognize the changing times and standards set by the law and instructed the children in my own way. I vow to find another way, so the kids will be able to concentrate the best they can on the field and commit to the training. — Son Woong Jung, Yonhap

But in November 2024, the Chuncheon District Court indicted the three officials at the academy for violating the cause about child abuse in the Child Welfare Act. Each of them was slapped with a fine of ₩3.00 million KRW (about $2,150 USD).

The suspensions handed out to Son Heung Yoon and Son Woong Jung are reportedly the lowest level of disciplinary action taken against coaches found guilty of violence, as per the KSEC regulations. The GFA’s committee has determined that Son Woong Jung’s verbal abuse and the physical abuse by the other two happened without premeditation and hence decided on the lowest punishment.

Both parties have requested the authorities to reconsider the punishment. The lawyer of the victim has emphasized that the young athlete was abused repeatedly, and hence the actions couldn’t be considered something done in the spur of the moment.

Son Woong Jung, a former soccer player himself, was known for his harsh upbringing of Son Heung Min, the global soccer star today. In a 2020 interview, he admitted that he “beat up Heung Min a lot,” and also admitted in his book that his training methods were harsh. According to hearsay, one of the neighbors of the Son family had also reported the elder Son for child abuse after witnessing how he trained Heung Min.

However, Son Heung Min has not accused his father of abuse. On the contrary, he has always spoken about him with respect, showing appreciation for his training methods.

You can read about the child abuse accusations in detail here:

Click here to read article