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Son Jun-Ho at an international match in June 2022
Photo: Lee Jin-man / AP
South Korean professional soccer player Son Jun-Ho was imprisoned in China for almost a year, but now he is free again and back in his homeland. This was announced by the South Korean Foreign Ministry in Seoul. Son was arrested in May 2023 and, according to Chinese authorities, he was being investigated "on suspicion of accepting bribes from non-state employees."
South Korea's Foreign Ministry only confirmed that Son was back in South Korea, but gave no details about when he returned or whether the allegations against him have been proven.
The Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post reported last year that the bribery allegations were about alleged match-fixing. Since 2021, Son has been under contract with Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan and also won a championship title there. According to the South China Morning Post, the team's coach, Hao Wei, was also involved in the corruption.
Foreign Ministry maintained contact with Son
"We have communicated with the Chinese authorities through various channels to request their cooperation in ensuring a speedy and fair trial, and are also in close contact with his family in South Korea," the South Korean Foreign Ministry said in the statement. It said it held around 20 consular meetings with Son to provide support and ensure fair access to lawyers.
Shortly before Christmas, Jürgen Klinsmann, then South Korea's national coach, called for Son's release. "Now we only have one Christmas wish," said Klinsmann after returning to South Korea after the 3-0 away win in the World Cup qualifiers in China: "That is to get Son Jun-Ho released because to date nothing has been proven against him. “So we hope that the Chinese government will release him, hopefully before Christmas, so that he can see his family,” Klinsmann said at the time.
Before his stint in China, Son spent seven seasons with South Korean clubs Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He played three of the four games for South Korea at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, coming on as a substitute in each case. The South Koreans reached the round of 16, but ended there against Brazil. According to the industry website “transfermarkt.de”, the central midfielder has played a total of 20 games for the national team so far.
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