South Korea are scheduled to face Saudi Arabia in Qatar on Friday before taking on Qatar in another friendly four days later.

SEOUL: South Korea captain Son Heung-min and four other national team players said on Thursday they had put their differences aside following reports of internal divisions within the squad.

South Korean football has faced controversy since the team’s disappointing group-stage exit from the World Cup, which was followed by the departure of unpopular head coach Hong Myung-bo.

In the aftermath, local media reported divisions between 34-year-old captain Son and several teammates, including Bayern Munich defender Kim Min-jae.

Son and Kim, along with Lee Jae-sung, Hwang In-beom and Hwang Hee-chan, issued a joint statement apologising to supporters and announcing that they were ready to move forward after holding discussions.

“First of all we would like to sincerely apologise to the Korean public and football fans for the concern caused by recent reports concerning the national team,” the players said.

They explained that their recent meeting provided an opportunity to discuss issues openly and honestly.

By listening to one another and addressing matters they had previously lacked opportunities to discuss, the players said they had developed a better understanding of each other’s positions.

Players Acknowledge World Cup Disappointment

During their discussions, the players also examined the team’s disappointing World Cup campaign and acknowledged that the experience continued to affect them.

“Our discussions began with the question of what needs to change to ensure that we do not repeat the same mistakes,” they said.

The players added that they intended to leave unnecessary controversy behind and concentrate on strengthening the national team.

“We now intend to put unnecessary controversy behind us and focus on building a stronger national team together,” the statement said.

South Korea Prepare for Upcoming Friendlies

Spanish coach Robert Moreno took charge of South Korea on an interim basis following Hong Myung-bo’s departure. His contract is reportedly due to expire this month.

South Korea are scheduled to face Saudi Arabia in Qatar on Friday before taking on Qatar in another friendly four days later.

The fixtures were initially planned as preparations for the 2027 AFC Asian Cup in Saudi Arabia.

However, the tournament was postponed last week and rescheduled for December next year.