Son Woong-jung, the father of Tottenham forward Son Heung-min, has been indicted on charges of abusing young players at his South Korean football training center, Son Academy. According to Seoul-based news agency Yonhap, prosecutors have demanded fines for Son and two other coaches, including Son’s older brother, Heung-yun, and ordered them to attend a training program aimed at preventing child abuse.
The allegations stem from accusations by players and parents, who claimed that coaches at the Son Football Academy in Chuncheon subjected young athletes to physical and verbal abuse. One incident in June involved Son Woong-jung allegedly beating a student with a corner flag after he came last in a race. While Son admitted the incident took place and apologized, he denied that his actions constituted abuse, describing them as a “mutually agreed event” as part of fitness training.
The student’s parents reported the coach to police in March, stating that the beating left their son needing two weeks of treatment. The father of the student expressed anger over the incident, saying, “Thinking about how frightened my son must have been makes me angry. I reported the case because I didn't want to see another situation like this.”
In response, Son Woong-jung acknowledged that his coaching methods had not kept pace with modern standards and expressed a commitment to self-reflection. However, he also disputed some of the allegations, asserting that the academy's actions were rooted in care for the young players and that they were fully cooperating with the investigation. “Much of what the plaintiff has said is not true, and we are working with the authorities without distorting facts,” he stated. The case is currently awaiting legal judgment.
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