Son Heung-min summoned to Korea FA hearing amid World Cup fallout

South Korea’s National Assembly has named Son Heung-min as a reference witness in a July 22 hearing examining the Korea Football Association’s leadership and the national team’s poor run at the 2026 CONCACAF World Cup.

What happened?

The Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee of the National Assembly picked Son Heung-min (34, LAFC) and Hwang Hee-chan (30, Wolverhampton) to appear at the hearing. The session will focus on the Korea Football Association’s operations and the reasons behind the team’s early exit from the tournament in June.

Other witnesses include former Korea Football Association president Chung Mong-gyu, ex-national team coach Hong Myung-bo, and former KFA technical director Lee Im-saeng. Lawmakers plan to grill them over the coach selection process, association governance, and accountability for the World Cup failure.

Why Son Heung-min is in the spotlight

Son Heung-min’s inclusion has sparked debate because he plays for LAFC in Major League Soccer and is currently in season. His club commitments make it hard for him to attend the hearing on July 22. Critics argue the focus should stay on the Korea Football Association’s systemic issues, not individual match decisions.

Questions are expected about why Son Heung-min was left out of the final group match against South Africa. Rumors of a rift with Hong Myung-bo could also come up. Hwang Hee-chan may face queries over why he started that game instead.

The controversy over overseas stars

Reference witnesses are not legally required to attend, and overseas players in season face real scheduling conflicts. Some lawmakers have been accused of adding high-profile names like Son Heung-min and Hwang Hee-chan to make the hearing look more dramatic than substantive.

Yet others say asking the team captain and key players about the World Cup process could provide valuable insight. The clash highlights tensions between public pressure for accountability and the practical limits of summoning busy athletes.

What comes next?

The hearing is set for July 22. Lawmakers will decide whether to press for Son Heung-min’s testimony or adjust the witness list as club schedules clash with the hearing date. The outcome could reshape how future Korea Football Association crises are handled-and whether star players get pulled into political investigations.