Korea JoongAng Daily

BTS returned to London, and this time the megagroup drew roughly 130,000 fans across two sold-out nights at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Monday and Tuesday.

The turnout was the largest the venue has seen since it opened in 2019, promoter Live Nation said.

The “BTS World Tour 'Arirang' in London” was the band's first stop in London in seven years. BTS last played the city in June 2019, when it became the first Korean act to headline Wembley Stadium.

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BTS performed “Hooligan,” “Normal” and “Body to Body” from its latest album “Arirang,” and also sang hit tracks such as “Idol” (2018) and “Fire” (2016).

The band said the concert gave them the opportunity to reminiscence about their Wembley performance.

Rolling Stone UK and The Guardian both awarded the concert five stars, with the former calling the concert a “coronation.”

The Times gave the concert a four-star review, titling it “a pleasingly carefree sequel from the kings of K-pop.”

The tour continues at Munich's Allianz Arena on Saturday and Sunday, where the group is set to become the first Korean act to play the venue. BTS will continue to perform in Paris on July 17 and 18, followed by concerts in the United States and Canada starting in August, where it will perform in New Jersey; Foxborough, Massachusetts; Baltimore; Arlington, Texas; Toronto; Chicago; and Los Angeles.

BY CHO YONG-JUN [cho.yongjun1@joongang.co.kr]

JIN EUN-SOO

Tottenham Hotspur legend Son Heung-min looks set to return to London in December to bid a proper farewell to fans.

Son will reportedly attend the Tottenham-Liverpool match in London on Dec. 20 to say farewell, but not to play as a loanee as he ruled out short-term offseason loans to European clubs earlier this year.

Son, who captained Spurs and ended the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the 2024-25 Europa League, left London to play for MLS club Los Angeles FC (LAFC). His final match in a Tottenham shirt came during an exhibition Coupang Play Series match against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium in western Seoul on Aug. 3.

He never had the chance to bid farewell to fans in London. British media reports suggest that he plans to appear before home fans on Dec. 20 to deliver a proper farewell message.

“Because my last match for Tottenham took place in Korea, I never had the chance to say goodbye,” he recently said in a YouTube video shared by Shoot for Love. “I obviously need to return to London and say goodbye to them directly. I think the fans deserve to see me at the stadium and say goodbye in person. It will be a very emotional day."

Son, who joined LAFC in the middle of the 2025 MLS season in August, ended his first season in the United States with 12 goals and four assists across 13 MLS appearances.

He returned to Korea on Thursday to rest and begin preparations for the 2026 season.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have seen an unimpressive start to the 2025-26 season, sitting in 10th place on the Premier League table with five wins, three draws and five losses.

Spurs are reportedly considering playing against LAFC for a friendly in Korea in the summer of 2026.

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY PARK LIN [[email protected]]

A Korean civic activist called out Tottenham Hotspur Football Club of the English Premier League and tour buses in Dubai for displaying incorrect versions of the Korean national flag, the Taegeukgi.

Seo Kyoung-duk, a professor at Sungshin Women’s University and a prominent advocate for Korean cultural awareness, said on Wednesday that he has received multiple reports of inaccurate Taegeukgi flags being used abroad as Korea marked the 80th anniversary of Liberation Day on Aug. 15.

"Tottenham Hotspur posted a poster on Aug. 15 with a message commemorating Korea’s Liberation Day, which read 'Congratulations on the 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation,'" wrote Seo. "As grateful as I am for the commemoration, it is regrettable that many of the Taegeukgi flags in the picture are wrongly drawn."

He also said that tour buses in central Dubai, a popular destination for travelers, displayed flags of various countries — but the Korean flag shown was inaccurate.

"I also confirmed a similar issue with a Taegeukgi hanging in the arrival hall at Mexico City International Airport, where the flag’s elements were arranged incorrectly," he said.

“Incorrect versions of the Taegeukgi are still being used around the world,” Seo said. “It’s important to inform others of the correct design so these errors can be corrected quickly.”

This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.

BY JANG GU-SEUL [[email protected]]

JIM BULLEY

Korea national football team captain Son Heung-min has become the subject of a heated online debate after a rainy interview drew criticism over his perceived lack of courtesy toward a female reporter.

The controversy emerged after a post-match interview at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday, where Tottenham Hotspur played a friendly against Newcastle United that ended in a 1-1 draw.

In a now-viral online post titled “You’ll get a harsh reality check as a Korean woman if you understand this photo,” screenshots compared Son with fellow Tottenham defender Ben Davies during their separate interviews with the same reporter. While Davies held the umbrella over the reporter, Son stood with a mic in one hand and the other behind his back as she held the umbrella over both of them.

The post quickly gained traction, racking up over 120,000 views and 1,800 comments in less than a day. Critics argued that Son failed to show basic manners, especially in contrast to Davies, whom many praised as “raised with natural courtesy.”

Some commenters applauded Davies for his gesture, writing, “Westerners are taught these manners from a young age,” while others questioned the backlash against Son. Defenders noted that Son was seen in a second photo holding a transmitter in the hand behind his back, which explained why both hands were occupied, while some noted that the football shorts do not have pockets and Davies appeared to tuck the transmitter in his waistband, as is common in post-match interviews.

Others pointed to Son’s long history of courteous behavior. A fan at the airport on the day of his departure recalled Son personally greeting every supporter and signing autographs. “He’s always been polite throughout his career,” the fan wrote. “Even now, as he considers a transfer, he’s widely respected for his character.”

This isn’t the first time Son has been highlighted for his manners. In November 2019, the Daily Mail reported on a viral moment when Son shielded a child mascot from the rain using his bare hands during a match against Sheffield United. The touching image earned widespread praise.

In October 2023, after a Premier League match against Luton Town, Son was again recognized for gently placing a microphone down with both hands following a post-match interview. Former England defender Rio Ferdinand, who conducted the interview and watched as Son placed the mic on the table, turned to his co-presenters and said, “What a guy, huh?”

Fans online describe Son as someone who “knows how to respect others” and “gives Korea a positive image as a nation with good manners and values.”

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.

BY CHO MUN-GYU [[email protected]]

Son Heung-min played in front of a full house in Seoul World Cup Stadium on Aug. 3 in a Coupang Play Series friendly pitting his Tottenham Hotspur against Newcastle United.

Son on Saturday announced that he is seeking a move away from the North London club after a decade of service that culminated in a 2025 Europa League trophy, his first silverware with the club.

It was a very emotional night for the legend, and even for some fans, as he said farewell.

THOMAS MCCARTHY [[email protected]]

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Son Heung-min, 33, announced Saturday that he will leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer.

Speaking at a press conference held at the IFC Mall in Yeouido, western Seoul, at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Son said, “There’s something I need to tell you, and it wasn’t an easy decision. I’ve decided to leave the team this summer. I felt it was right to share this directly at a press conference.”

A friendly between Tottenham and Newcastle United, scheduled for 8 p.m. on Sunday at Seoul World Cup Stadium as part of the Coupang Play Series, will serve as Son’s farewell match for the club.

When asked which team he would join next, Son declined to elaborate.

“I didn’t come here today to say where I’m going," he said. "I still have a game to play. Once things are more finalized, I’ll be able to share more."

In recent weeks, both British and American media have reported that Son — whose contract with Tottenham has one year remaining — is linked with a move to Major League Soccer’s LAFC. Clubs in Saudi Arabia have also reportedly shown interest.

Explaining his decision to leave, Son said, “This was one of the hardest decisions I’ve made in my football career. Spending ten years at one club is something I’m proud of. I gave everything I had every single day, both on and off the pitch. Winning the Europa League last season was a big part of it — I achieved something I’d been striving for.

“Part of me wanted to challenge myself in a new environment. I’m grateful to the club for supporting my decision.”

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.

BY PARK RIN [[email protected]]

KIM JU-YEON