On March 8th, a noteworthy video circulated on social media capturing Son Heung-min declining a fan’s request. In the video, the 31-year-old striker declined to take a photo and sign an autograph for a supporter wearing a red hoodie.
Son has long been renowned for his friendly demeanor and near-universal acceptance of fan requests for photos or autographs. Hence, this recent action by the Tottenham Hotspur player has garnered considerable attention.
According to the uploader of the video, Son had indeed signed an autograph and taken a photo with the individual initially. However, subsequent requests for additional signatures and photos led Son to suspect the individual’s motives, prompting his refusal.
Chosun reports on the prevalence of individuals who opportunistically seek photos, jerseys, and autographs from celebrities to later sell them to fans at inflated prices.
“Many individuals deliberately exploit players for their own gain, leading many players to refuse when they see fans carrying an excess of pens and jerseys seeking autographs,” Chosun further stated.
Returning to Son’s narrative, he politely declined a second request from the aforementioned fan, who subsequently departed. Son’s actions have drawn praise from online communities.
“He was genuinely vigilant in avoiding being taken advantage of by that fan,” remarked one individual.
“Son is happy to fulfill requests from fans, but those who resell are not. Nonetheless, Son was very courteous in his refusal,” added another account.
According to South Korean media, Son Heung-min had previously declined a similar request from a fan for similar reasons last year.
Tonight, Son Heung-min and his teammates at Tottenham Hotspur will face Aston Villa in the Premier League. Following this fixture, the team will take a break to make way for international matches. Son’s potential call-up to the South Korean national team remains uncertain following his altercation with Lee Kang-in during the 2023 Asian Cup.
Yonhap reports that the roster for the South Korean national team will be announced tomorrow (March 11th).