Lee Kang-in and Son Heung-min hugging after scoring. [AFP=연합]
[헤럴드경제=김유진 기자] Coupang Play, an online video service (OTT), received praise from netizens for selecting exquisite background music while broadcasting the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia 2nd round Group C 4th match between Korea and Thailand.
The Korean national team won 3-0 against the Thai team at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on the 26th. This day’s game had a special meaning for domestic soccer fans. This is because captain Son Heung-min (Tottenham) and youngest member Lee Kang-in (Paris Saint-Germain), who were involved in the controversy, cleared away the controversy by scoring a joint goal.
In the 9th minute of the second half, Son Heung-min received a pass from Lee Kang-in and scored the second goal with a powerful left-footed shot. As Lee Kang-in ran toward Son Heung-min, Son Heung-min held his younger brother in his arms without hesitation and with a big smile. In particular, Coupang Play, which broadcast the game online, repeated the hugging scene several times immediately after it was produced.
The match between Korea and Thailand in the 4th game of Group C of the 2026 North and Central America World Cup Asia region 2nd qualifying round held at Rajamangala Stadium in Bangkok, Thailand on the 26th. Korea’s Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in shake hands after greeting fans after winning 3-0. yunhap news
When Coupang Play aired the scene after the game, the music played was none other than Kim Dong-ryul’s ‘Should I Say I Love You Again’. Viewers continued to praise the lyrics, which seemed to have the relationship between Son Heung-min and Lee Kang-in in mind.
Looking at the lyrics of this song, “Should I say I love you again / That you were destined to come back to me someday / That forgetting you was the hardest thing for me / That I couldn’t even think about / Should I say that I love you again / Will you accept me comfortably like a good friend / Even if I’m reborn? “Loving you / is the reason for my life.”
Coupang Play’s exquisite song selection also became a hot topic as the ending song for the match against Thailand on the 21st. At that time, the game ended in a 1-1 draw, and as if to reflect this, the song ‘Frustrating’ by singer Geeks was played at the ending.
Meanwhile, after the game that day, Son Heung-min said in a media interview, “It’s been a while since I hugged (Lee Kang-in), and he’s so cute, and I hope he does better.” He said, “When playing soccer, there can be fights because each player has a strong desire to win and wants and demands things,” and added, “Even strong players deserve to be loved by soccer fans. “I am 100% confident that this incident will help him grow into a great player and person,” he said.
kacew@heraldcorp.com
