Son Heung-min, the captain of the South Korean national team, has reaffirmed his commitment to a personal philosophy shaped years ago by his father: postpone marriage and family until retirement, keeping football the sole priority while at the top of the game.
“My father says I shouldn’t marry until I retire, and I agree,” Son said, quoting the long-standing paternal counsel. “When you marry, your number one is family, wife and kids, then football. While I play at the top level, I want football to be number one. When I retire at 33 or 34, I’ll have a long life to form a family.”
In 2019, Son told The Guardian that he did not plan to marry while still playing, reasoning that after marriage, family would inevitably take precedence over the sport. Now, as he prepared for what could be his final World Cup campaign, the 34-year-old (born 8 July 1992) showed no signs of deviating from that course.
A Philosophy Forged by a Father
Son Woong-jung, a former professional footballer whose own career ended prematurely due to an Achilles tendon injury, has been the architect of Son Heung-min’s remarkable journey. He forbade his sons from playing on formal school teams until age 14, instead personally training them in Chuncheon, focusing rigorously on individual technique and ball control. He became renowned for his strict control over his son’s routine and for advising him not to marry until his playing days were done, all to maintain total focus on football.
The player’s mother, Eun Ja Kil, has remained largely out of the public eye but has always been a key pillar of support. Throughout his years at Tottenham Hotspur, his family lived with him in London, a closeness that provided the stable, grounded environment crucial for an elite athlete navigating life abroad.
A Glorious Career on the Pitch
Son Heung-min’s trophy cabinet speaks to a career of historic achievement. Across his clubs — Hamburger SV, Bayer Leverkusen, Tottenham Hotspur, and now LAFC — he has cemented his legacy as arguably Asia’s greatest footballer. He has scored 169 goals for Spurs, the fourth-highest in club history, and holds Tottenham’s Premier League assists record with 68. He won the Premier League Golden Boot as the scoring champion with a career-best 23 goals in the 2021–22 season.
Named Tottenham captain in August 2023, Son led them to a drought-breaking trophy and was described by the club as a “modern-day great”. In 2025, with his contract extended, speculation swirled over his future before he eventually made a high-profile move to MLS side LAFC for the 2026 season.
The National Treasure
On the international stage, Son is preparing for his fourth FIFA World Cup, tying the record for most appearances by a South Korean player. He is the most capped South Korean male player with 143 caps and ranks second in his country’s all-time scoring chart with 54 international goals, four behind the legendary Cha Bum-kun. He is also tied for the most World Cup goals by a South Korean with three, alongside Ahn Jung-hwan and Park Ji-sung.
“I want to make sure that while I play at the top level, football can be number one,” Son has said. “You don’t know how long you can play at the top level. When you retire, or when you are 33 or 34, you can still have a long life with your family.”
A Quiet Personal Life
As of June 2026, Son remains single. In the past, his name surfaced alongside K-pop star Jisoo of BLACKPINK — rumors that were strongly denied by her agency — as well as singers Bang Min-ah and Yoo So-young, though those links were never confirmed. In 2025, Son was the victim of an extortion attempt by a former romantic partner, an incident that further underscored why he keeps his personal life intensely private.
Hints of a Future Shift
While his longstanding position remains unchanged, recent interviews have offered a small window into a possible softening stance. When Son joined LAFC, he spoke with US Weekly about the future. “I think I am now at an age when I could have a family. But no one knows the future. I really like children, so I don’t know what will happen,” he said with a laugh — a subtle but notable departure from the singular focus of his younger years.
For now, however, Son’s gaze remains fixed firmly on Mexico. Leading South Korea out of a World Cup group that includes Czechia, Mexico and South Africa is the immediate mission. The family chapter of his life, as always, will have to wait.
