South Korea faces Premier League absence as Japan emerges
The Guardian Sport • 1 min read • Latest: Aug 16, 2026, 7:00 AM
Last updated Aug 16, 2026
The new Premier League season may see South Korea without representation for the first time since 2005. This follows disappointing performances by the South Korean national team, including a poor World Cup showing and investigations into their football association. The shift in focus is highlighted by the rise of Japanese players in the league, as Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min's legacies fade.
- •Premier League may not feature South Korean players for the first time since 2005.
- •South Korea's national team had a poor World Cup performance.
- •Ongoing investigations into South Korea's football association are reported.
- •Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min were key figures in promoting Korean representation in the league.
- •Japanese players are gaining prominence in the Premier League.
- 7:00 AMThe Guardian Sport — End of an era? South Korea’s sun sets in the Premier League but Japan rise
"After glory days of Park Ji-sung and Son Heung-min, the new season could be Korean-free for first time since 2005 It has been a cruel summer for South Korea. The national team crashed and burned at the World Cup, the police are investigating the football association, reports have emerged about bribes paid to foreign referees in 2011 and 2012 and there is a real prospect of the the English Premier League being Korean-free for the first time since 2005. That was when Park Ji-sung signed for Manchester United, to start a love affair between the Land of the Morning Calm and England’s top tier that has continued ever since. Park won four titles and his mantle was taken over in 2015 by Son Heung-min at Spurs. Continue reading...
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