"Arrogant After Rising with a Football Field Fashion Show"... Hong Jun-pyo Targets Lee Kang-in Again

Hong Jun-pyo, the mayor of Daegu, once again launched a harsh verbal attack on soccer player Lee Kang-in.

On the 17th, Mayor Hong wrote on his Facebook, "What is happening in Korean soccer right now is a copy of the political arena," adding, "There is no respect between seniors and juniors, only abusive language is rampant, everyone is busy avoiding responsibility, and no one admits fault." He continued, "Just because you became a little famous, you act arrogantly, start a family company, wear a bucket hat at the soccer field, hold fashion shows, and your mind is elsewhere. How can you win playing soccer like that?" targeting Lee Kang-in with a blunt remark. This was a sarcastic comment on Lee Kang-in leaving his previous agency to start a family company (K10 Limited Company) and his usual enjoyment of luxury fashion.

Daegu Mayor Hong Joon-pyo (left), soccer player Lee Kang-in (right). [Source=Yonhap News]

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Mayor Hong said, "Why did a promising Cuban Major Leaguer get kicked out and come all the way to Korea? It's because of poor character and personality that harms teamwork." The Major Leaguer Hong referred to appears to be Yasiel Puig, who was expelled from Major League Baseball due to erratic behavior and failed to settle in Korean professional baseball as well. Finally, Mayor Hong emphasized, "The president of the Korea Football Association, who brought in a coach with a history of abandoning teams when managing the U.S. national team, should take responsibility for that money (penalty fee) out of his own pocket," adding, "Get rid of all the bad-mannered players. Character comes before soccer."

This is not the first time Mayor Hong has indirectly criticized Lee Kang-in. On the 16th, he also wrote on his social media, "Before being good at politics and good at kicking the ball, seniors and juniors must respect each other, but people who act without manners just because they became briefly famous harm teamwork and degrade the national team's performance," pointing out, "Teamwork is especially important in team sports like soccer."

He also claimed, "Just as politicians are ousted regardless of ability when criticized in politics, the same logic applies in soccer and sports because both are worlds based on the sentiments of the people," adding, "At this opportunity, players without manners and those who act recklessly out of vanity should be removed," and "Such people should be ousted so that the national team matches, which are national events, can be enjoyed as festivals."

[Image source=Captured from Hong Jun-pyo, Mayor of Daegu's Facebook]

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Previously, Mayor Hong also called for the dismissal of former Korea national soccer team coach J?rgen Klinsmann and the resignation of Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association. On the 14th, he wrote on his SNS, "If Klinsmann is not dismissed, I will not watch the national team games," criticizing, "I can no longer tolerate the absurd behavior of a single incompetent coach who looks down on this country and ruins its national dignity." He added, "Officials of the Football Association who claim the cause is not the coach's incompetence but player infighting should also wake up. That is also a failure in player management." Furthermore, he said, "Since Chung Mong-gyu has been in power for a long time as the football association president, it is right for him to resign," adding, "Even the president serves a single term; if you have served three terms, you should step down."

Meanwhile, Coach Klinsmann was abruptly dismissed on the 16th, just 11 months after his appointment. Chung Mong-gyu, president of the Korea Football Association, explained the reason for the dismissal, saying, "Coach Klinsmann did not demonstrate the leadership required of a national team coach in game management, player management, and work attitude."

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