South Korea’s midfielder Son Jun-ho gives a press conference before a training session at Al Egla Training Site 5 in Doha on November 22, 2022, during the Qatar 2022 World Cup football tournament. (Photo by Jung Yeon-je / AFP)
BEIJING— A South Korean citizen, whom South Korea’s government identified as football player Son Jun-ho, is suspected of accepting bribes and has been detained by the public security department of Liaoning province, China’s foreign ministry said on Tuesday.
Son, detained on Friday, is being held in police custody in northeast China in connection with a bribery case, a South Korean diplomatic source said on Monday.
Reuters was unable to reach Son for comment.
Son plays for the South Korean national team and Chinese Super League club Shandong Taishan, based in the northeastern province of Shandong.
“China is a country governed by the rule of law and handles the relevant cases in accordance with the law to protect all the legitimate rights and interests of the parties involved,” ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a news briefing.
FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football – FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 – Round of 16 – Brazil v South Korea – Stadium 974, Doha, Qatar – December 5, 2022 South Korea coach Paulo Bento with Son Jun-ho and Son Heung-min after the match as South Korea are eliminated from the World Cup REUTERS/Kai Pfaffenbach
South Korea’s foreign ministry said its mission in China was providing necessary consular support to Son, but declined to comment further, citing privacy.
A Korea Football Association official said it had reached out to Shandong Taishan, seeking an explanation, but has not heard back.
Son played in three of the national team’s four games during the World Cup last year in Qatar, where South Korea reached the elimination round of the tournament for the first time in 12 years.
His club has not commented publicly on Son’s situation, but uploaded a poster wishing him happy birthday on Friday, the day of his detention.
Neither Shandong Taishan nor the Liaoning Public Security Department immediately responded to requests for comment.