South Korea football star released after year-long detention in China

Star South Korean football player Son Jun-ho has been released and returned home after being detained and investigated in China for nearly a year over bribery allegations, Seoul’s Foreign Ministry said.

Son, a South Korea international who played three times at the 2022 World Cup, was playing professionally in China when he was detained by Chinese authorities at Shanghai airport in May 2023 on suspicion of taking bribes.

The Foreign Ministry confirmed that Son was back in South Korea but didn’t provide further details, including when he returned or whether the charges against him were proven.

South Korea’s Chosun Ilbo newspaper, citing anonymous sources, reported that Son returned Monday afternoon.

Son had played for Shandong Taishan and won the 2021 Chinese championship with the Jinan-based club. Hong Kong newspaper South China Morning Post reported last year that the bribery allegations concerned suspected match-fixing involving the team’s coach, Hao Wei.

“We have been communicating with Chinese authorities through various channels to request their cooperation in ensuring a fast and fair process (for Son) while also communicating closely with his family in South Korea,” the South Korean ministry said in a statement.

It said it had conducted about 20 consular interviews with Son to provide assistance and ensure fair access to lawyers.

Son, 31, played seven seasons with South Korea’s Pohang Steelers and Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors before joining Shandong Taishan in 2021 on a four-year contract. He has played for South Korea 18 times, including at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

Additional reporting by AP