“Iron Wall” Kim Min-jae (28, Munich) expressed his disappointment to soccer fans.
The South Korean national soccer team, led by head coach Hong Myung-bo, drew 0-0 against Palestine in the first Group B match of the third qualifying round for the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North Korea and China at 8 p.m. on the 5th at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Coach Hong Myung-bo failed to win in his return match to the national team for the first time in 10 years. Coach Hong, who caused various controversies during his nomination process, failed to produce any outcome.
From the start of the game, there was a strange phenomenon in which Korean fans booed the Korean national team. It was a protest against Hong Myung-bo, who broke the principle of his own and appointed him as the national team coach, and Chairman Chung Mong-kyu. The aftermath was that the Seoul World Cup Stadium was not sold out and about 5,000 seats were empty.
After the game, Kim Min-jae approached the Korean cheering squad and asked them to refrain from doing so. Kim Min-jae explained, “Some fans wanted Korea to lose through DM. I asked my fans to cheer for me. It was not a serious situation.”
The video released through “Mbig News” has become controversial again. The players gathered in front of the Korean cheering squad greeted their fans in groups. Captain Son Heung-min shouted, “Let’s salute!” The players bowed their heads in Korean style as a group.
However, Kim Min-jae was the only one who did not greet. Fans are raising suspicions, saying, “Isn’t Kim Min-jae strongly dissatisfied with his fans?” 안전놀이터
The Red Devils’ cheering squad also refuted Kim Min-jae’s words, saying, “No fans hope and cheer for Korea to lose.” It seems clear that there was a misunderstanding between the players and fans over the booing. Kim Min-jae is encouraging this without saying hello.
On Kim Min-jae’s behavior after the match, Son Heung-min said, “Shouldn’t we have such a case like (Kim) Min-jae again? The relationship between the fans and the players should be good.”