South Korea’s preparations for the 2026 World Cup have been marred by a significant rift between players and domestic media, stemming from derogatory comments aimed at captain Son Heung-min. These remarks were captured during an open training session on June 7, just days before South Korea's 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic.

The Korea Football Association (KFA) expressed regret over the inappropriate comments made by certain media personnel during the national team’s training at their Guadalajara base camp. The organization stated that the comments caused "great shock and disappointment" within the squad.

The controversy ignited after unidentified media personnel mocked Son, who is 33 years old, regarding his military service record. This footage, recorded by JTBC, South Korea’s official rights holder for the tournament, was leaked, leading to outrage across social media platforms.

Notably, Son earned an exemption from the mandatory 21-month military service after helping South Korea secure gold at the 2018 Asian Games. He later fulfilled alternative duties, including a three-week military training course in 2020 and community service.

In response to the backlash, South Korean players have decided to boycott speaking to domestic media outside of official World Cup commitments, leading to the cancellation of scheduled interviews. The KFA emphasized its commitment to protecting the squad and fostering a healthier media environment.

As South Korea prepares to face Mexico on Thursday evening local time in their second Group A match, Son, who transferred from Tottenham to Los Angeles FC last year, aims to improve after missing opportunities in the recent match against the Czech Republic, where Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyeon-gyu scored.