Chinese spectators fired lasers at Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in… Conflict with Tottenham fan

[앵커]

Our national soccer team won a complete victory over China in the World Cup qualifiers held in China the day before yesterday.

However, during the game, Chinese spectators were captured shooting lasers at Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in or assaulting Son’s fans.

Even among Chinese people, there were voices of self-reflection that they should be ashamed of themselves.

This is Kim Hyo-shin, a correspondent in Beijing.

[리포트]

A soccer stadium in Shenzhen, China, where the World Cup qualifying match between Korea and China was held.

As the national anthem rings, boos pour in.

10 minutes in the first half.

Chinese spectators shoot several laser beams around Son Heung-min’s eyes as he prepares for a penalty kick, obstructing his vision.

Laser attacks also followed other Korean players, including Lee Kang-in, throughout the game.

In the stands, attacks continued against fans wearing Tottenham uniforms with Son Heung-min’s number on them.

The women who unfurled the Taegeukgi had to hear swear words.

[“멍청이! 멍청이! 멍청이!”]

Scenes of Son Heung-min’s fans leaving under police protection were also seen everywhere.

[한국 유학생 친구 : “우리 중국은 사람을 따돌리는 나라가 아니잖아요. 이런 (외국인) 학생들을 괴롭히는 곳이 아니지 않습니까?”]

Even in these difficult circumstances, the Korean national team won 3-0.

Then, some Chinese spectators threw Son’s uniform in a trash can outside the stadium and surrounded Son’s fans and threatened them.

[“무릎을 꿇어라! 무릎을 꿇어라!”]

On Chinese online platforms, self-reflective voices were raised saying, “It was too much to shoot a laser at the Korean national team,” or, “We lost the game and lost our sports spirit.”

British media, including The Sun, analyzed this clash between Chinese fans as ’empty phobia’.

As the Chinese national soccer team repeatedly collapsed on the threshold of the World Cup finals, some interpret that fans’ frustration was expressed in the wrong way.

This is Kim Hyo-shin of KBS News in Beijing.

Video editing: Kim In-su / Graphics: Kim Jeong-hyun / Data research: Lee Eun-gyeol