Son Woong-jung's Parenting Method

 

Son Woong-jung: Raising his son to become a World-Class soccer player

Son Woong-jung was once recognized as a rising player in the professional soccer world. However, a sudden Achilles tendon injury forced him to give up soccer at the age of 28. Afterward, his life, which revolved entirely around soccer, was far from easy. Living as a day laborer, Son Woong-jung found a new path through his son, Son Heung-min. It was his father, Son Woong-jung, who played a crucial role in making Son Heung-min a global soccer star, not just in Korea but on the world stage. Let’s take a look at Son Woong-jung's unique parenting approach.

(Left) Son Woong-jung, (Right) Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur in the English Premier League

Emphasizing character with a spirit of fair play

Son Woong-jung was born as the son of a poor farmer. He discovered soccer by chance, and his passion for the sport was unparalleled. His life was about not succumbing to unfairness and learning what truly mattered. When teaching soccer to Son Heung-min, he told him not to seize opportunities if the opposing player fell down, but to kick the ball out of bounds instead. This was to prevent his son from becoming a cunning player who took advantage of fleeting moments. Soccer is a game where teamwork and psychological battles take place, and it is disadvantageous for a player who loses their composure. By playing soccer with respect for others, one can feel at ease and grow into a better player. As an Asian player, Son Heung-min developed character and earned the respect of his teammates, which in turn opened up more opportunities for him.

 

Leading by example and being there for his son

Son Woong-jung had been involved in the soccer world long before his son, Son Heung-min. Though his own career ended in failure, he used his experiences as lessons, identifying the mistakes he had made and teaching his son the opposite. He focused on ensuring that he mastered the fundamentals rather than pushing him to achieve results in matches. Instead of forcing his son to perform the same actions, he led by example, showing him how it was done. Son Heung-min has mentioned that the training was tough, but since his father was doing it with him, he couldn't refuse. Even when other children his age were gaining fame by showing results in matches, Son Woong-jung refused to let his son participate in games until his fundamentals were perfected. This emphasis on fundamentals laid the groundwork for Son Heung-min to eventually deliver results and achieve success.

 

When his son decided to follow the same path that he had once failed, Son Woong-jung coolly evaluated the problems based on his own experiences. His method of guiding his son to avoid going in the wrong direction serves as a great example for modern-day parents.

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