South Korean international footballer Son Jun-ho, who had been detained by Chinese authorities in connection with a bribery case, has been released and returned home, according to an announcement by Seoul’s foreign ministry on Monday.
The midfielder, known for his contributions to the World Cup, was detained in northeast China in May of the previous year “on suspicion of accepting bribes by non-state employees,” as stated by the Chinese government at the time, albeit without providing further specifics.
According to a statement issued by the South Korean foreign ministry on Monday, Son “recently arrived in South Korea as his detention ended” after a duration of 10 months. The ministry further stated that the government had offered “active legal assistance through close communication with Son’s family.”
Confirmation of Son’s release was provided by the Korea Football Association, which announced that the 31-year-old footballer had returned on Monday.
Son had been playing for the Shandong Taishan football club in the Chinese Super League since 2021 and had notably participated in three out of South Korea’s four matches during the previous year’s World Cup held in Qatar.
His arrest came in the wake of numerous corruption investigations carried out by Chinese authorities targeting high-ranking officials, including the head of China’s football governing body.