Because even Korea’s biggest stars bow to Son Heung-min

South Korea’s entertainment industry is filled with countless idols, but there is only one figure who has become the idol of idols themselves: Son Heung-min.

Two months ago, K-pop superstar G-Dragon traveled to Los Angeles to watch one of Son Heung-min’s matches for LAFC. When the two finally met and exchanged greetings, fans witnessed a side of G-Dragon rarely seen in public.

Gone was the confident swagger that usually defines the K-pop icon. Instead, he appeared shy and visibly excited as he waited for his son to approach. Holding his phone, G-Dragon eagerly followed Son to capture the moment, smiling like a child meeting his hero. The meeting ended with a warm hug and handshake between two of South Korea’s most celebrated figures in completely different fields.

How famous is Son Heung-min?

In the K-pop industry, G-Dragon is often considered a living legend whose presence commands respect wherever he goes. Yet standing next to Son, he looked more like a devoted fan than a superstar. In fact, the BIGBANG leader has publicly expressed his admiration for the footballer on several occasions.

The 1992-born forward has become a national treasure in South Korea, a symbol of Korean pride that has transcended Asia to establish itself in the most competitive football arenas in the world. If G-Dragon represents the pinnacle of K-pop, Son Heung-min represents something even broader: a national inspiration whose successes motivate an entire generation of young Koreans.

His story began with the dream of playing football in Europe.

Behind that dream was his father, Son Woong-jung, a former football player who became his son’s first and most influential coach. He instilled strict discipline in Son, often making him practice ball juggling for hours. More importantly, it taught him humility, respect for opponents and the importance of maintaining strong personal values.

Years later, Son made his father’s dream a reality. He excelled in Germany before moving to the English Premier League, widely considered the toughest football competition in the world. There, he continued to shine, eventually becoming the Premier League’s top scorer and fulfilling South Korea’s long-standing dream of producing a world-class soccer star.

South Korea once had Park Ji-sung, who had huge success at Manchester United. However, Son has elevated Korean football to another level. He became the first Asian player widely recognized as the equal of the Premier League’s brightest stars, inspiring younger generations with his humility, ambition and relentless pursuit of excellence.

Compared to Son Heung-min, even the biggest K-pop idols often seem smaller in terms of national influence. From children to the elderly, virtually everyone in South Korea knows who Son is. When the Korean national team competes on the world stage, especially in events like the FIFA World Cup, millions of people tune in expecting Son to lead the team. For more than a decade he has embraced this responsibility.

Economically, Son’s impact is staggering. Reports estimate that it generates nearly 2 trillion won (about $1.8 billion) in economic value for South Korea. About 920 billion won comes from domestic production, consumption and exports of products associated with its image, including fashion, cosmetics and food. Furthermore, its contribution to improving South Korea’s national brand reputation was valued at nearly 730 billion won.

Son Heung-min’s fever is reaching new heights during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

As South Korea competes on soccer’s biggest stage, celebrities are openly showing their support. Karina and Winter were recently spotted in the stands cheering on Son and the national team. Dressed in red shirts and waving Korean flags, the two K-pop stars quickly became media headlines themselves.

In fact, the list of celebrities who have publicly expressed admiration for Son Heung-min is almost endless. RM once wore a cap with Son’s name embroidered on it to show support before a UEFA Champions League final.

Popular solo singer Lim Young-woong, whose fan base rivals that of major idol groups, reportedly made every effort to convince Son to participate in an amateur football match with him.

Meanwhile, actress Jun Ji-hyun personally approached Son to take a selfie together. When Son politely bowed to thank her for attending an event, the actress enthusiastically responded, “Oh my God, thank you so much!” The image of one of Korea’s most elegant and influential actresses smiling with joy after taking a photo with Son quickly became a major topic in Korean media.

These days the South Koreans are counting the hours until each World Cup match. Jerseys featuring Son’s iconic number 7 and the name “Heungmin” have become the hottest items in the country. Nike, the official kit supplier of the national team, revealed that Son’s No. 7 jersey sold out within just 24 hours of its release in South Korea. In the United States, Korean fans line up for hours before games in hopes of purchasing the same jersey.

Everyone understands that the 2026 FIFA World Cup could be Son Heung-min’s last major international tournament with the South Korean national team.

And, perhaps most importantly, everyone understands that it may be a long time before South Korea sees another Son Heung-min.

Sources: Znews

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