Soccer player Son Jun Ho, who had been detained in China on charges of non-state bribery, is back home after his detention ended. It’s roughly been a year since he was imprisoned in May last year.
On the 25th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said, “Son Jun Ho has recently returned to the country after his detention. The Ministry has been in contact with the Chinese authorities through various routes and requested cooperation so that the process can be carried out in a just and timely manner.” They added, “We have closely communicated with his family in Korea, conducted about 20 consular interviews, and actively provided necessary support, including effortless access to a lawyer.”
Furthermore, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated they could not confirm specific details of Son Jun Ho’s current health and other conditions, as it included “information related to personal details.”
Son Jun Ho was previously taken into custody in May last year while trying to return home from Shanghai Hongqiao Airport in China. The Liaoning Public Security Bureau has since investigated him on bribery-related charges.
Son Jun Ho faced charges of non-state bribery. Non-state bribery occurs when a person affiliated with a company or organization, not a government agency, unlawfully receives someone else’s property in exchange for exploiting their position.
In light of this, there have been speculations that he may have been involved in match-fixing or that money may have been exchanged during his transfer to Shandong, but Son Jun Ho has reportedly denied all these suspicions.
Later, in June of last year, Chinese security authorities criminally detained Son Jun Ho, subjecting him to a detention investigation as a suspect. The Korean government requested a non-custodial investigation, but it was not accepted.
However, whether Son Jun Ho’s trial has ended or any other detailed information is not confirmed.
Son Jun Ho was a key player in the 2022 Qatar World Cup, making significant contributions to the Bento team’s advancement to the round of 16.
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