Kim Jin-su. [Yonhap]
Kim Jin-su. [Yonhap]

Former South Korea international Kim Jin-su of FC Seoul has offered words of comfort to his fellow 1992-born teammates Son Heung-min of LAFC and Lee Jae-sung of Mainz following the 2026 FIFA World Cup in North and Central America.

Kim spoke to reporters after FC Seoul's Hana Bank K League 1 2026 Round 16 home match against Incheon United at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday.

Although Kim was not selected for this year's World Cup squad, he was a mainstay of the national team from 2013 to 2024. He, Son and Lee are close friends who all share the same birth year of 1992.

Kim said he had been in contact with the two players throughout the tournament. "They were going into a high-pressure competition and were in a position to feel that pressure more than most, so I told them I hoped they could enjoy it," he said. "And after it was all over, I told them they had worked hard."

Asked about the controversy surrounding Son and Lee's limited playing time — including being left out of the starting lineup against South Africa — Kim said the two had not discussed it directly. "Those players have more than enough ability to contribute to the team regardless of whether they play," he said. "They are not the type to sulk just because they don't get on the pitch, and personally I don't think this will be their last tournament."

Kim urged the entire squad to use the experience as a springboard. "I hope all the players come back with the mindset that this is not the end," he said. "They need to train harder and grow at their clubs, drawing on what they learned from this tournament."

He added that he remained optimistic about the future of Korean football. "So many people love and support Korean football — I'm sure the team will bounce back and good things will come," he said.

On the question of who should take over as the next head coach, Kim said, "Whoever comes in, what matters most is how well they can implement their own style of football."


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