On March 20, the Korean team had a training session to prepare for the 2026 World Cup qualifying match against Thailand (March 21) at Seoul World Cup Stadium. Lee Kang-in joined the "Kimchi" team on the morning of March 20 and immediately joined the training with his teammates.
Previously, Lee Kang-in had a scuffle with Son Heung-min at the 2023 Asian Cup, causing internal divisions within the Korean team and being eliminated in the semi-finals. Although Lee Kang-in went directly to London (England) to apologize to Son Heung-min, domestic fans still did not stop attacking Lee. Even before the Korean team announced the call-up list in March, fans of this country declared that they were ready to boycott the Korean team if Lee Kang-in was called up.
Before the training session, the Korean media had 15 minutes to cover the event. Lee Kang-in was not assigned to answer interviews, but he took the initiative to stop warming up, approached the reporters, and publicly apologized to the Korean fans. PSG star Lee Kang-in stood with his hands clasped together, bowed his head and said: "Thank you very much for coming here many times. First of all, I want to thank coach Hwang Sun-hong for giving me the opportunity to play for the national team. During the Asian Cup, you gave me a lot of love, a lot of care and support. However, I sincerely apologize for not being able to repay that kindness and disappointing you."
Lee Kang-in took the initiative to apologize.
He promised not to repeat the offense in the future.
The player born in 2002 also promised not to repeat the offense in the future: "Through the incident, I learned a lot. I think everyone's bitter comments will help me a lot in the future. During the past time, it also made me think many times.
From now on, I will not only try to become a good football player but also strive to become a person with better moral qualities. I hope Korean fans will always help, care for and support me and the team in the future."
According to OSEN, after finishing his apology, Lee Kang-in Sau also bowed 90 degrees and smiled at the reporter. Not only Lee Kang-in was happy, Son Heung-min's laughter was also recorded. The newspaper wrote: "Once he apologized, it was as if the burden in his mind had been lifted. Lee Kang-in began training and rehabilitation with his coach.
Except for Lee Kang-in, the rest of the players split into two groups and passed the ball around. Whenever a mistake was made, there was loud laughter and playful reprimands. Captain Son Heung-min's voice echoed throughout the stadium. Even though he still had a bandage wrapped around his finger, he continued to practice with a bright smile.
Then bowed his head and apologized.
Son Heung-min is radiant and often smiles with his teammates.
Coach Hwang Sun-hong also shared brightly: “The atmosphere is not bad. More than anything, it is important for Korea to show that we are united. The teammates worked with Lee Kang-in to solve various problems. I look forward to tomorrow's match.”
On March 21, the Korean team will face Thailand in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. The "Kimchi" team currently has 6 points, ranking first in Group C. Therefore, Lee Kang-in and his teammates are determined to win to get a ticket to the next round soon.
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