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Player Watch Player Watch: Son Heung-min

Lilbaz

Just call me Baz
Apr 1, 2005
41,363
74,893
I think if they were in his shoes they'd feel exactly the opposite.

Son is an international football star. And while he's not a trailblazer in terms of South Korean footballers playing in the top leagues, he is arguably the most talented export. Ji Sung Park was hugely successful and a very good player in his own right but he was a a cog in the machine whereas Son is regarded as one of the leading players in his position and the leading Asian goalscorer in Premier League history.

In addition I have read if he was required to serve his duties would be administrative. Office work. Is it really of value to South Korea to have its top player on the world stage have his career interrupted for that...? He could always come back to it at the end. There's no doubt Son loves his country and he is more valuable representing it on the pitch where his talents prosper.

Son dropped out of school so not sure if he would even get administrative work. Heard caring for the elderly would be a possibility. He wouldn't even be eligible to play for the military football team.
 

wakefieldyid

SC Supporter
Jun 13, 2006
1,560
1,591
In addition I have read if he was required to serve his duties would be administrative. Office work. Is it really of value to South Korea to have its top player on the world stage have his career interrupted for that...? He could always come back to it at the end. There's no doubt Son loves his country and he is more valuable representing it on the pitch where his talents prosper.

Any chance of him being appointed South Korea's Military Attache to N17? :)
 

zicomerc

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
500
1,523
Semi final is only 48 hours away, hope they recover quickly. I'd advise Son not to even watch our match as it'll be 4am local time.

Vietnam are probably expected to beat Syria, and lost narrowly to Uzebkistan 2-1 in the Asian U23 final in January. They like Uzbekistan before today also have not yet conceded. Would still consider South Korea favourites to win from here but it's not going to be straightforward.
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
6,885
12,677
I'm saying it again, he should go through basic training one summer, if they even want him to do so without a degree. After that he can do his service at the embassy in London in a way he can combine his professional career and continue to promote South Korea internationally. There's far more value for South Korea to have him as a star in the Premier League than to pick garbage or walk elder citizens for two years.

It's not that Son doesn't want to serve his country, he just don't want it to kill his 15 year long career as a footballer. He can do community work in his mid 30s, he can't then play football at top level.
 

coys200

Well-Known Member
May 22, 2017
8,436
17,403
I do find it slightly odd that an elite PL player like Son has not imposed himself more on this tournament.
 

NinjaTuna

Well-Known Member
Jul 9, 2017
1,878
7,155
I'm saying it again, he should go through basic training one summer, if they even want him to do so without a degree. After that he can do his service at the embassy in London in a way he can combine his professional career and continue to promote South Korea internationally. There's far more value for South Korea to have him as a star in the Premier League than to pick garbage or walk elder citizens for two years.

It's not that Son doesn't want to serve his country, he just don't want it to kill his 15 year long career as a footballer. He can do community work in his mid 30s, he can't then play football at top level.
That would be nice but sadly it doesn't work like that in SK
 

ERO

The artist f.k.a Steffen Freund - Mentalist ****
Jun 8, 2003
5,910
5,226
I live in China and some S Koreans don't like the fact that Sonny appears to not want to serve his country the way 95%+ do.
One guy really doesn't like it- but he always seems to want his cake and eat it! He always wants to talk about Spurs and Son but then gets angry if anyone asks about Son's (possible) reluctance to do this duty.
I'm in the camp that he can do more good for his people by playing in the best league and raising SK awareness this way.

So, the biggest football star to ever come out of South Korea goes and help the U-23 team to glory in Asia Games, and this is conceived as a bad thing?
 

rabbikeane

Well-Known Member
Mar 29, 2005
6,885
12,677
That would be nice but sadly it doesn't work like that in SK

But it should, and we could work on being that change. Spurs are in a good position to engage in talks with both their FA and government to come to a solution. Nothing is set in stone, there's debate about it in their society, and things have changed last 20 years as their leaders see the need one way or another. Even the relationship with North Korea is in change.
 
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whitechina

Well-Known Member
Dec 27, 2012
4,227
9,094
So, the biggest football star to ever come out of South Korea goes and help the U-23 team to glory in Asia Games, and this is conceived as a bad thing?
hi
no it's not that- the main guy who has a beef with Sonny is very traditional and believes EVERYONE able to should do their time in their homeland. It is seen as a bad thing as some do try to get out of this duty.
I'm no expert just saying what I know
 

Saoirse

Well-Known Member
Aug 20, 2013
6,143
15,550
Just give em a Levy special. Two for the price of one. We keep Sonny, they get Llroente and Sissoh-no. Throw in Edwards too if we need, by all accounts his attitude could do with some work anyway.
 

danielneeds

Kick-Ass
May 5, 2004
24,179
48,764
I live in China and some S Koreans don't like the fact that Sonny appears to not want to serve his country the way 95%+ do.
One guy really doesn't like it- but he always seems to want his cake and eat it! He always wants to talk about Spurs and Son but then gets angry if anyone asks about Son's (possible) reluctance to do this duty.
I'm in the camp that he can do more good for his people by playing in the best league and raising SK awareness this way.
I think the whole thing is bullshit. Professional athletes are pretty much the only example of a career that is most definitely finite, and where losing two years of it could be up to 10, 15% of it.

I'm sure Sonny wants to serve his country, but I don't really understand why elite professional athletes couldn't be given a deferral to serve when they are 35.
 

coy-spurs1882

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
3,989
10,442
I think the whole thing is bullshit. Professional athletes are pretty much the only example of a career that is most definitely finite, and where losing two years of it could be up to 10, 15% of it.

I'm sure Sonny wants to serve his country, but I don't really understand why elite professional athletes couldn't be given a deferral to serve when they are 35.
maybe they consider a deferral as privilege to celebrities
 

Davids_5

Well-Known Member
Aug 4, 2005
331
401
I know this has probably been answered a million times but do SK have to win for him to get exemption? Or will a runners up medal do it.
 

St José Dominguez

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,592
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To be fair though even if he has to do this military service we'd have him for 3 more full seasons. That could be longer than we end up keeping other first teamers. It's likely when he turned 29 into 30 we might have moved him on anyway, as players start losing a yard of pace etc. Issue I guess is his value, we wouldn't be able to sell him before so I guess you'd hope we get good fee for him when he comes back at 31. Not sure how that even works anyway, wouldn't we need to get compensated? Levy will probably sue the Korean FA.
 

zicomerc

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
500
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To be fair though even if he has to do this military service we'd have him for 3 more full seasons. That could be longer than we end up keeping other first teamers. It's likely when he turned 29 into 30 we might have moved him on anyway, as players start losing a yard of pace etc. Issue I guess is his value, we wouldn't be able to sell him before so I guess you'd hope we get good fee for him when he comes back at 31. Not sure how that even works anyway, wouldn't we need to get compensated? Levy will probably sue the Korean FA.

I believe you have to complete your military service by the age of 28. I think this would be his last season with us if he had to go, and then comes back to us at 29. This was meant to be his last chance, otherwise he would still have Olympics 2020 to participate.
 

zicomerc

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
500
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It's very much wishful thinking for Spurs fans over here to think that Son should be exempt for military service because of his status.

He's had his opportunities in the past to avoid and he is now on last chance saloon. Since Son was of age he could have done it then, but focused on making it with Hamburg to break in their first team, and he managed to play in the Bundesliga at 18. He then had a chance to participate in the London Olympics 2012, but decided to focus on his career instead. Had he participated he would have come out with a bronze medal and be exempt. That might end up being his biggest reget.

He had a good season in 2012, scoring double figures and got a move to Leverkusen where he repeated that feat again. He wanted to go to the Asian Games in 2014 but Leverkusen refused him and they were entitled to do so as it's not a mandatory tournament. South Korea won. He was upset and at the end of the season he wanted to move after scoring double figures again. That is where Tottenham stepped in to sign him for 22 million.

He then participated in the Olympic Games in Rio 2016, but they surprisingly lost to Honduras in the Quarter Finals. Had they won he would have had a good chance to get a bronze medal. Also prior to that they lost to Australia in the Asian Cup final in 2015.

So this tournament meant it was his last chance to win the Gold medal to avoid military service. He still has a good chance to achieve that but he's had this hanging over him his whole career and should have had it done by 2012.

If he doesn't win it I'm sure Spurs will try and explore alternative solutions but why should South Korea change their policy for one man? We always say there is no bigger individual than Tottenham Hotspur, so why should it be any different for South Korea.
 

St José Dominguez

Well-Known Member
Jul 15, 2014
3,592
11,648
I believe you have to complete your military service by the age of 28. I think this would be his last season with us if he had to go, and then comes back to us at 29. This was meant to be his last chance, otherwise he would still have Olympics 2020 to participate.

I honestly don't think anyone really knows. Everywhere I read I see it's before a man turns 35 he has to have completed it. Then papers say 29.

I was just reading about a pro Korean golfer who started it at 29 until 31, so I think that might be a relevant example.
 

zicomerc

Well-Known Member
Aug 31, 2012
500
1,523
I honestly don't think anyone really knows. Everywhere I read I see it's before a man turns 35 he has to have completed it. Then papers say 29.

I was just reading about a pro Korean golfer who started it at 29 until 31, so I think that might be a relevant example.

I just read the golfer story and he was a US resident but his visa expired, and the only reason why he did it at 29 was because he was trying to avoid it by trying to keep his residency and failed, and then was forced to do the military service. Whether Son wants to pull the same trick I'm not sure he can, as he'd have to retire from international football and would be a stain on his name.
 
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