The South Korea national football team faced criticism during training for the 2026 World Cup when Son Heung-min was targeted by two journalists. They hurled harsh words at him, mocking his performance on the field. This moment was captured by JTBC, the official broadcaster, and sparked immediate outrage on social media. In response, the South Korean squad decided to cut ties with the media and refused interviews with local outlets. Only interviews required by the World Cup organizing committee were conducted, leading to the cancellation of numerous individual interview schedules. The Korea Football Association (KFA) expressed regret over the incident and emphasized its commitment to prioritizing player protection. Son Heung-min, who was exempted from military service due to his gold medal at the Asian Games, is seen as being seriously disrespected by this unfounded mockery. Despite the off-field controversy, South Korea secured a 2-1 victory against the Czech Republic, with goals from Hwang In-beom and Oh Hyun-kyu, marking a strong start to the season.