Soccer star Son Heung Min’s (also known as Sonny) brother Son Heung Yun has been accused of assaulting his students. Son Heung Yun works as a coach at their family-run soccer academy, SON Academy.
A young aspiring athlete accused Son Heung Yun of assaulting him until he sprouted bruises on his thighs, and of assaulting a younger student until he could not walk.
“Son Heung Yun said that he would beat us if we didn’t return, but I thought that he was just joking. He ended up hitting four of us. When I got bruises on my thighs, he smiled and said that he hit me by mistake.”
It was said that as the student was giving his testimony, he complained of difficulty breathing. Not only was Son Heung Yun accused, but another fellow coach was also accused of assault. He allegedly used curse words on the students during training from January to March 2024. He also kicked the aforementioned victim twice in the buttocks, and pulled on his hair, along with other smaller attacks such as flicks on the forehead.
The victim’s father told the press in a phone call that Son Heung Yun is denying all accusations and lying. He claimed to be determined to take the case to the end with a lawsuit, until Son Heung Yun issues an apology and acknowledges his crimes.
The victim’s father also alleged that Son Heung Yun’s lawyer offered monetary compensation on the condition that the family would not talk about the issue to the press, and write a statement to absolve Son of all punishment. They would also not be allowed to report the matter to the National Soccer Association. The victim’s family was so angry that they decided not to take up the offer. That was when Son’s side offered more money to them. Eventually, out of anger, the victim’s father declared he would not settle unless they gave him ₩500 million KRW (about $ 359,000 USD), after which Son’s side switched up and began denying claims.
Lastly, the victim’s legal representation claims that everyone in the field knows about SON Academy coaches’ reputation. However, the students’ parents entrusted their children to the academy in hopes that their children will see success in the field. Additionally, it was claimed that many parents were afraid to bring issues to light, in case their children ended up blacklisted in the industry.
Source: Press Asian
