Jung Min-ho has worked as a staff writer at The Korea Times since 2012, mostly covering social and political issues. He currently belongs to the Politics & City Desk where he covers topics such as health, labor and human rights. Prior to joining the team, he was responsible for covering North Korea and sports. His article about a biosecurity breach of Middle East respiratory syndrome won him an award from the Korea Science Journalists Association in 2016. He is also the co-author of the book, "Medical Pioneers of Korea" (2019). He served as the head of the international relations committee at the Journalists Association of Korea from 2021 to 2023.
Son headed to Leverkusen
Son Heung-min celebrates after Korea won the World Cup qualifier against Uzbekistan 1-0 at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, Tuesday. The 20-year-old Hamburg forward is on the verge of signing with Bayer Leverkusen. / Korea Times photo by Shim Hyun-chul
By Jung Min-ho
By Jung Min-ho
Hamburg forward Son Heung-min is set to sign with Bayer Leverkusen, where legendary striker Cha Bum-kun still remains an idol to many fans after scoring 52 goals in 185 games before retiring 20 years ago.
Hamburg's new director of sport Oliver Kreuzer revealed that Son is close to agreeing on terms with Leverkusen.
“We think the transfer will go through in the next few days,” Kreuzer told Sky Deutschland.
“I expect Son to join Leverkusen.”
Since he arrived at the Bundesliga club at the age of 16, Son’s talent has been manifest with him scoring 20 goals in 78 appearances. His combination of pace, skills, vision and finishing ability has made him the most highly touted football prospect since English Premiership veteran Park Ji-sung.
His 12 goals and two assists in 33 matches last season sparked a bidding war among top European teams, including Chelsea, Borussia Dortmund, Liverpool and Manchester United.
Son’s current deal with Hamburg is due to expire next year, but the team seems ready to sell him for a lavish transfer fee of 10 million euros ($13.2 million).
“You have got to look at the sporting value of the player on the one side, and the economic value to the club on the other,” Kreuzer said.
Son’s move to the new club will likely see him form a formidable attacking partnership with Stefan Kiessling, who finished as the Bundesliga's top scorer last season with 25 goals.
For old fans, the transfer is expected to provoke nostalgia of “Cha Boom,” the nickname Cha’s stellar performance earned him with another title, Asia’s Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics.
Even now, Cha’s legacy endures with a UEFA Cup trophy in 1988 before he retired the following year after a lengthy Bundesliga career spanning 308 matches where he scored 98 goals.
For Son, the memories either could be a curse or a blessing, and it now depends on his feet.