South Korean soccer sensation Son Jun-ho released from Chinese detention for bribery allegations

South Korean soccer star Son Jun-ho, who was detained in China for allegedly accepting bribes, has recently returned home, according to a statement from the country’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

The ministry has been in contact with Chinese authorities through different channels and has requested cooperation to ensure a quick and fair process. No specific details about the release were provided.

Son, a midfielder for Shandong Taishan, a soccer club in the Chinese Super League (CSL), was detained by public security authorities in China’s northeast Liaoning province last May. He was suspected of taking bribes despite not being a functionary of a state organ.

Shandong Taishan, the soccer club in which Son plays, achieved great success in 2021 by winning the league title and more recently the 2022 Chinese Football Association Cup.

He has also played for South Korea’s men’s national team, reaching the knockout stages of the 2022 World Cup with them.

According to China’s state-run Global Times, Son was the first foreign soccer player to be investigated and detained since the CSL began in 2004.

Beijing initiated a campaign to eliminate corruption in Chinese soccer, leading to the arrest of several high-ranking officials. The Communist Party's anti-graft watchdog has been looking into various figures within the Chinese Football Association as part of this effort.

CNN's Tara Subramaniam and Andrew McNicol were involved in the reporting of this news.

Editor's P/S:

The detention and subsequent release of South Korean soccer star Son Jun-ho highlight the ongoing battle against corruption in Chinese soccer. Son's case is particularly notable as he was the