PremiumAFC Asian Cup - Did you know South Korea captain Son Heung Min was rumoured to be dating these K-pop girls?
South Korean captain Son Heung Min, one of the most renowned players from the country, was embroiled in two dating rumours.
Last Updated: 04.50 PM, Jan 13, 2024
The AFC Asian Cup 2023 kicked off on January 12, 2024, with host nation Qatar defeating Lebanon 3-0. The tournament marks the 18th edition of Asia's premier international men's football competition and is scheduled to run until February 10, 2024. As teams are looking to become the best Asian side, certain countries hold a strong position, such as Australia, South Korea, Japan, and more. The Korean team boasts players who have been competing in the Premier League and Ligue 1 tournaments during the national off-season.
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Ahead of the start of the AFC Asian Cup, several dating rumours involving South Korean soccer players and female K-pop idols have left netizens surprised. However, it turns out this kind of romantic pairing is not that rare. South Korean captain Son Heung Min, one of the most renowned players from the country, was embroiled in two dating rumours. Let's take a closer look at the idols he was allegedly linked to.
Son Heung Min and Minah:
The captain was said to be in a relationship with 'Girl's Day' member Minah. In July 2014, various media outlets reported seeing the two on dates. The idol's agency confirmed the news, stating that the two were in the initial stages of getting to know each other. However, a few months later, the couple decided to part ways due to their hectic schedules and the excessive attention drawn to their relationship.
Son Heung Min and Soyoung:
His other dating rumour made headlines in 2015, a few months after his break up with Minah. Rumours circulated that he was dating former 'After School' member So Young. The two were seen together on a lengthy drive date on November 11, a day celebrated as Pepero Day in Korea.
The age difference between Soyoung (then 29) and Son (then 23), combined with Son being embroiled in another dating rumour following Minah, generated significant buzz. Nonetheless, the relationship was short-lived, and media outlets speculated that it ended because Son prioritized his career during that period.
Other footballers caught up in dating rumours with idols include PSG star Lee Kang In. On January 2, Korean media outlets reported that he was dating former 'APRIL' member Naeun. Notably, she spent time with Lee Kang In at the Korean National Team’s hotel on November 14 and 15, leading up to the team's qualifying game for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – AFC.
Additionally, footballer Hwan Ui Jo was rumoured to be dating T-ARA's Hyomin, as reported by Dispatch in January 2022. The two maintained a long-distance relationship for three months, and they were seen together at the end of 2021 in Switzerland. While neither party confirmed the relationship, two months later, Hyomin’s representatives issued an official statement announcing their breakup.
About South Korea's matches at the AFC Asian Cup 2023:
Group E's first match will witness two-time champions South Korea going head-to-head against Bahrain at the Jassim bin Hamad Stadium on January 15. Subsequently, they are set to face Jordan on January 20 and their final group-stage match will be against Malaysia on January 25.