Overview

• Son Woong-jung, director of SON Football Academy, and Son Heung-yun, the academy's head coach, received three- and six-month suspensions, respectively, for child abuse violations.
• The suspensions, issued by the Gangwon Football Association's Sports Fairness Committee, remain in effect during the appeals process due to the nature of the offenses involving violence and human rights violations.
• A 2024 investigation by the Korea Sport Ethics Center confirmed multiple incidents of physical and verbal abuse against youth players, leading to legal and disciplinary actions.
• In October 2024, the Chuncheon District Court fined each coach 3 million won and mandated 40 hours of child abuse treatment under the Child Welfare Act.
• Son Woong-jung issued a public apology, acknowledging outdated coaching methods, while disputing some claims made by the victim's representatives.