Gangwon FC’s Shin Min-ha earns first senior national team selection
Shin Claims First Senior Call-Up Following Gangwon Success
Gangwon FC defender Min-ha Shin earned his career-first senior national team selection for the November international evaluation matches. Upon receiving the news, Shin immediately placed a phone call to his parents. “I was in a daze when the roster was announced, so I called my parents first to ask if they had heard the news,” Shin said. Crediting his steady club performances, the defender emphasized that his primary strategy in camp is simply to stick to his usual routine rather than overcomplicate his approach. “My biggest thought is to just do what I’ve been doing,” Shin said, noting that his speed, aerial duel success, and defensive cover work caught manager Moreno’s attention. Shin added, “강원FC 소속으로 A대표팀에 뽑힐 수 있어서 더 영광입니다,” and further noted, “첫 발탁이기 때문에 긴장감을 덜어내려고 많이 노력할 것”이라고 밝혔다. He also stated, “강원FC에서 보여줬던 모습들이 모레노 감독님 눈에 들었기 때문에 뽑혔다고 생각한다”고 했다.
Internal Friction Overshadows Roster Announcement
While newcomer Shin prepares for his debut, the broader national team environment remains shadowed by public disputes and off-pitch controversies. A circulating video shows Hwang Hee-chan bypassing captain Son Heung-min’s high-five request during the October 24 Ecuador match at Suwon World Cup Stadium. The same channel highlighted subsequent incidents from a November 6 fixture against Uzbekistan, pointing out that certain players—specifically 1996-born cohort members Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan—reportedly avoided direct physical contact during team huddles and shoulder-to-shoulder formations. Those same three players previously faced retirement rumors following a late-night meeting with Korea Football Association (KFA) 전력강화위원장 Hyun Young-min, stoking widespread speculation regarding Son’s leadership style.
National Assembly Audit Examines Internal Discord
The internal discord reached government halls on October 21 during a National Assembly audit. People Power Party lawmaker Jung Yeon-wook raised allegations that certain players refer to team captain Son Heung-min not by name, but simply as “number 7” or “that person,” KBS 뉴스 reported. Acting KFA President Lee Yong-soo acknowledged that players had voiced difficulties regarding team operations while cautioning that internal discussions were heavily distorted through public re-exposures. Meanwhile, the controversy drew international attention when British newspaper The Guardian published a piece by football writer John Duerdon comparing Son’s current leadership climate to Cristiano Ronaldo’s divisive final phase with Portugal, noting that the 34-year-old LAFC forward faces an increasingly complex status within the squad amid shifting player dynamics and Asian Cup preparations.
Roberto Moreno Confirms Son Heung-Min as Captain
Confronting the turbulence directly, interim manager Roberto Moreno named Son Heung-min alongside Kim Min-jae, Hwang In-beom, and Hwang Hee-chan in the November squad announcement, explicitly quashing rumors of a leadership overhaul. “We have had continuous conversations with the players, the captain, and the association,” Roberto Moreno stated, according to KBS 뉴스. Asserting that all selected players possess the necessary skill and dedication, the interim manager offered a blunt assessment regarding the captaincy when questioned by media: “The captain of our national team is Son Heung-min, and I have nothing more to add about that.” Moreno is scheduled to travel to Europe to observe key overseas players firsthand before the squad gathers for the upcoming two-match fixture list.
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