An analysis has been made that the Korean soccer team’s midfielder Son Jun-ho (31, Shandong Taishan) being subjected to a compulsory investigation by the Chinese police is a problem beyond sports.
Taiwanese news media ‘Sangbao’ said, “The Korean Embassy in China confirmed that Son Jun-ho was arrested by the Liaoning Province Public Security on the 12th. Hostage diplomacy is standard in China’s foreign relations.”
The Chinese Public Security Agency is an organization equivalent to the Korean police. ‘Sangbao’ said, “Korea is rapidly establishing trilateral cooperation through improved relations with the United States and Japan, foreshadowing the development of military cooperation. It is a very unpleasant situation for China.”
Regarding Son Jun-ho, who has been detained by the public security for the fifth day, ‘Sangbao’ quoted a Chinese diplomatic source and reported that he was “indicted for giving bribes to non-governmental officials (non-government officials, not civilians).”
Currently, Son Jun-ho is a suspect, not a witness, and could be handed over to a criminal trial by the Supreme People’s Procuratorate. ‘Shang Bao’ compared the situation with China continuing its diplomatic retaliation against Canada.
In 2018, Canada arrested Meng Wanzhou (51, China), chief financial officer (CFO) of Huawei, the world’s largest telecommunications equipment company, in accordance with cooperation with the United States on extradition. China responded by detaining two Canadians.
Canadian citizens arrested in China at the time were released only after Meng Wanzhou was released. Even in 2023, the two countries are in conflict, such as matching a Chinese diplomat in Canada with a Canadian consul in Shanghai.
Son Jun-ho recorded 5 points and 9 assists in 57 games, including the Chinese Football Association Cup, as he was moderated with an average of 85.2 minutes in Shandong, where he joined in 2021. He is quite capable of scoring considering he plays as a defensive/central midfielder.
In particular, in his Shandong debut season, he made a big success with 21 matches, 4 points, 4 assists and 0.40 attack points per 90 minutes in the 2021 Chinese Super League (1st Division). If the year-end awards ceremony had not been canceled in the aftermath of Corona 19, MVP would have been a strong atmosphere.
As soon as 2022 came, Shandong re-contracted with Son Jun-ho until the 2025 season. He also has an option for a one-year extension. When English professional soccer teams such as Southampton and Fulham reviewed the recruitment, they responded quickly to stay.
Son Jun-ho shone as the K-League 1 Helper King (2017) and MVP (2020) even during his Korean professional football days. He was also one of the two Chinese Super League players named in the final list of 32 countries for the 2022 International Football Federation (FIFA) World Cup finals in Qatar.
Officials of the players said,토스카지노‘We have secured a full status by proving our skills sufficiently in Shandong. There was no need for bribes,” he refutes the charges made by the Chinese public security.