Bayern Munich has reached the top of the Bundesliga. However, Kim Min-jae (29), who has quietly supported this team, was pushed out of the spotlight. Even at the moment when the team confirmed its league championship, he could not stand at the center of the spotlight.

Bayern Munich confirmed its champion title for the 2024-2025 Bundesliga season on the 5th (Korean time). On this day, second-placed Bayer Leverkusen drew 2-2 in an away match against Freiburg, solidifying Bayern Munich's top position with 76 points, regardless of the remaining matches. This marks Bayern's 34th league title overall.

This victory is also special for Kim Min-jae. Last season, he stood at the top of Serie A in Italy wearing a Napoli jersey, and this time, he is holding the championship trophy in Germany as well, marking a milestone of conquering both major leagues in Europe. It is an unprecedented record for a Korean defender.

His dedication was exceptional. Kim Min-jae has played a total of 43 matches, including cup competitions, and spent 3,593 minutes on the field, more time than anyone else. Even when looking at league playing time alone, he was second on the team with 2,289 minutes, following Joshua Kimmich. Even amid the chaos of losing key defenders one after another, he held firm without wavering. His resolve, stated at the end of last year when he said, "I will play even if I get broken rather than sitting on the bench," became a reality.

However, Kim Min-jae's dedication was thoroughly disregarded during the championship ceremony. His face did not appear in the representative image of the championship video posted on the club's official YouTube channel. Instead, it featured Upamecano, who had a long absence due to injury, and Leon Goretzka, who remained a supporting role throughout the season. Given that the image was not a simple edit of a group photo but selectively produced, it is difficult to view it merely as an oversight.

Fans reacted immediately. Criticism poured in with comments like, "Why was the starting defender missing?" and "Isn't this a deliberate omission?" Some even raised suspicions that "racial elements might be involved." The exclusion of Kim Min-jae was difficult to understand.

The controversy spread to the Bundesliga's headquarters. Kim Min-jae was also absent from the championship commemorative animation video produced by the league office. He did not appear among the 13 characters in the video. In contrast, Eric Dier, who was a substitute member throughout the season, was included. Comparing just the playing times, Kim Min-jae was overwhelming, yet his presence in the final product was the opposite.

The media reflected a similar sentiment. Major outlets in Germany, such as 'Bild' and 'Kicker', repeatedly assigned low ratings to Kim Min-jae throughout the season. While a few mistakes were highlighted, his consistently stable performances received little attention. Even when compared to teammates who made the same mistakes, the standard for assessing Kim Min-jae was harsher.

The issue lies with the club's response. Bayern remained silent until the controversy escalated, offering no explanations. It was only after fierce protests from fans that they replaced the existing image with a new thumbnail that included Kim Min-jae. However, the initial impression had already become difficult to recover. Among fans, reactions included, "Late response" and "The essence remains the same."

Kim Min-jae is a player who prefers to prove his worth on the field rather than through media play. His recorded playing time this season sufficiently speaks for itself. However, as the season comes to a close, the return he received is inappropriate silence and indifference.

This scene recalls a past statement by Son Heung-min. At a fan event in 2022, Son Heung-min stated, "I experienced a lot of racial discrimination in Germany. Scoring against Germany in the World Cup was revenge for that memory." Kim Min-jae, while not openly discussing it, might be undergoing similar experiences.

Kim Min-jae, who has topped the European leagues for two consecutive seasons. At the pinnacle of this glory, his name has quietly slipped to the back row. The spotlight did not shine on him, and there were no heartfelt cheers welcoming him. This scene is not a mere mistake but a reality that must be clearly remembered.

[OSEN]